DNA-AgNC Loaded Liposomes for Measuring Cerebral Blood Flow Using Two-Photon Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

Abstract

Unraveling the transport of drugs and nanocarriers in cerebrovascular networks is important for pharmacokinetic and hemodynamic studies but is challenging due to the complexity of sensing individual particles within the circulatory system of a live animal. Here, we demonstrate that a DNA-stabilized silver nanocluster (DNA-Ag₁₆NC) that emits in the first near-infrared window upon two-photon excitation in the second NIR window can be used for multiphoton <i>in vivo</i> fluorescence correlation spectroscopy for the measurement of cerebral blood flow rates in live mice with high spatial and temporal resolution. To ensure bright and stable emission during <i>in vivo</i> experiments, we loaded DNA-Ag₁₆NCs into liposomes, which served the dual purposes of concentrating the fluorescent label and protecting it from degradation. DNA-Ag₁₆NC-loaded liposomes enabled the quantification of cerebral blood flow velocities within individual vessels of a living mouse.