Two-photon luminescence imaging of cancer cells using molecularly targeted gold nanorods.
We demonstrate the use of gold nanorods as bright contrast agents for two-photon luminescence (TPL) imaging of cancer cells in a three-dimensional tissue phantom down to 75 mum deep. The TPL intensity from gold-nanorod-labeled cancer cells is 3 orders of magnitude brighter than the two-photon autofluorescence (TPAF) emission intensity from unlabeled cancer cells at 760 nm excitation light. Their strong signal, resistance to photobleaching, chemical stability, ease of synthesis, simplicity of conjugation chemistry, and biocompatibility make gold nanorods an attractive contrast agent for two-photon imaging of epithelial cancer.
Durr
Nicholas J
NJ
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
Larson
Timothy
T
Smith
Danielle K
DK
Korgel
Brian A
BA
Sokolov
Konstantin
K
Ben-Yakar
Adela
A
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D017979:Gold Colloid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / Q000379:methods*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size
D003287:Contrast Media; D017979:Gold Colloid