title: Multiplex photoacoustic molecular imaging using targeted silica-coated gold nanorods.
abstract: The establishment of multiplex photoacoustic molecular imaging to characterize heterogeneous tissues requires the use of a tunable, thermally stable contrast agent targeted to specific cell types. We have developed a multiplex photoacoustic imaging technique which uses targeted silica-coated gold nanorods to distinguish cell inclusions in vitro. This paper describes the use of tunable targeted silica-coated gold nanorods (SiO(2)-AuNRs) as contrast agents for photoacoustic molecular imaging. SiO(2)-AuNRs with peak absorption wavelengths of 780 nm and 830 nm were targeted to cells expressing different cell receptors. Cells were incubated with the targeted SiO(2)-AuNRs, incorporated in a tissue phantom, and imaged using multiwavelength photoacoustic imaging. We used photoacoustic imaging and statistical correlation analysis to distinguish between the unique cell inclusions within the tissue phantom.
authors.forename: Carolyn L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bayer
authors.forename: Yun-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Seungsoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Srivalleesha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mallidi
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sokolov
authors.forename: Stanislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Emelianov