title: Silica-coated gold nanoplates as stable photoacoustic contrast agents for sentinel lymph node imaging.
abstract: A biopsy of the first lymph node to which a tumor drains-the sentinel lymph node (SLN)-is commonly performed to identify micrometastases. Image guidance of the SLN biopsy procedure has the potential to improve its accuracy and decrease its morbidity. We have developed a new stable contrast agent for photoacoustic image-guided SLN biopsy: silica-coated gold nanoplates (Si-AuNPs). The Si-AuNPs exhibit high photothermal stability when exposed to pulsed and continuous wave laser irradiation. This makes them well suited for in vivo photoacoustic imaging. Furthermore, Si-AuNPs are shown to have low cytotoxicity. We tested the Si-AuNPs for SLN mapping in a mouse model where they exhibited a strong, sustained photoacoustic signal. Real-time ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging revealed that the Si-AuNPs quickly drain to the SLN, gradually spreading throughout a large portion of the node.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Geoffrey P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Luke
authors.forename: Ashvin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bashyam
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Homan
authors.forename: Suraj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Makhija
authors.forename: Yun-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Stanislav Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Emelianov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D006046:Gold; D012822:Silicon Dioxide