title: A "schizophotonic" all-in-one nanoparticle coating for multiplexed SE(R)RS biomedical imaging.
abstract: SERS nanoprobes for in vivo biomedical applications require high quantum yield, long circulation times, and maximum colloidal stability. Traditional synthetic routes require high metal-dye affinities and are challenged by unfavorable electrostatic interactions and limited scalability. We report the synthesis of a new near-IR active poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide) (pHPMA). The integration of various SERS reporters into a biocompatible polymeric surface coating allows for controlled dye incorporation, high colloidal stability, and optimized in vivo circulation times. This technique allows the synthesis of very small (<20 nm) SERS probes, which is crucial for the design of excretable and thus highly translatable imaging agents. Depending on their size, the "schizophotonic" nanoparticles can emit both SERS and fluorescence. We demonstrate the capability of this all-in-one gold surface coating and SERS reporter for multiplexed lymph-node imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Center for Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology (CMINT), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065 (USA).
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: Hazem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karabeber
authors.forename: Moritz F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Kircher
mesh_terms: D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000379:methods*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000378:metabolism*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*
keywords: SERS; fluorescence; gold; molecular imaging; nanoparticles