title: Virus-mimicking nano-constructs as a contrast agent for near infrared photoacoustic imaging.
abstract: We report the first proof-of-principle demonstration of photoacoustic imaging using a contrast agent composed of a plant virus protein shell, which encapsulates indocyanine green (ICG), the only FDA-approved near infrared chromophore. These nano-constructs can provide higher photoacoustic signals than blood in tissue phantoms, and display superior photostability compared to non-encapsulated ICG. Our preliminary results suggest that the constructs do not elicit an acute immunogenic response in healthy mice.
authors: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
authors: Sharad
authors: S
authors: Gupta
authors: Muhammad R
authors: MR
authors: Chatni
authors: Ayala L N
authors: AL
authors: Rao
authors: Valentine I
authors: VI
authors: Vullev
authors: Lihong V
authors: LV
authors: Wang
authors: Bahman
authors: B
authors: Anvari
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000737:chemistry*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014780:Viruses / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D016207:Cytokines; D007208:Indocyanine Green