Noninvasive molecular imaging of small living subjects using Raman spectroscopy

TLDR

Molecular imaging of living subjects is rapidly evolving, with bioluminescence and fluorescence techniques widely used in small‑animal models. This study aims to develop a noninvasive, deep‑tissue molecular imaging strategy for small animals using Raman spectroscopy and Raman nanoparticles. The authors employ surface‑enhanced Raman scattering nanoparticles and single‑wall carbon nanotubes in a small‑animal Raman imaging system to achieve whole‑body imaging, assess nanoparticle pharmacokinetics, enable multiplexing, and target tumors in vivo. The results demonstrate that this Raman‑based modality can perform whole‑body imaging, track nanoparticle pharmacokinetics, multiplex signals, and target tumors, underscoring its significant potential for biomedical imaging of living subjects.

Abstract

Molecular imaging of living subjects continues to rapidly evolve with bioluminescence and fluorescence strategies, in particular being frequently used for small-animal models. This article presents noninvasive deep-tissue molecular images in a living subject with the use of Raman spectroscopy. We describe a strategy for small-animal optical imaging based on Raman spectroscopy and Raman nanoparticles. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering nanoparticles and single-wall carbon nanotubes were used to demonstrate whole-body Raman imaging, nanoparticle pharmacokinetics, multiplexing, and in vivo tumor targeting, using an imaging system adapted for small-animal Raman imaging. The imaging modality reported here holds significant potential as a strategy for biomedical imaging of living subjects.