title: Sonophore labeled RGD: a targeted contrast agent for optoacoustic imaging.
abstract: Optoacoustic imaging is a rapidly expanding field for the diagnosis, characterization, and treatment evaluation of cancer. However, the availability of tumor specific exogenous contrast agents is still limited. Here, we report on a small targeted contrast agent for optoacoustic imaging using a black hole quencher®(BHQ) dye. The sonophore BHQ-1 exhibited strong, concentration-dependent, optoacoustic signals in phantoms, demonstrating its ideal suitability for optoacoustic imaging. After labeling BHQ-1 with cyclic RGD-peptide, BHQ-1-cRGD specifically bound to αvβ3-integrin expressing glioblastoma cell spheroidsin vitro. The excellent optoacoustic properties of BHQ-1-cRGD could furthermore be provenin vivo. Together with this emerging imaging modality, our sonophore labeled small peptide probe offers new possibilities for non-invasive detection of molecular structures with high resolutionin vivoand furthers the specificity of optoacoustic imaging. Ultimately, the discovery of tailor-made sonophores might offer new avenues for various molecular optoacoustic imaging applications, similar to what we see with fluorescence imaging.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haedicke
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.affiliation: Chair of Biological Imaging, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Munich, Germany; Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Murad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.affiliation: Chair of Biological Imaging, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Munich, Germany; Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Vasilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ntziachristos
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reiner
authors.affiliation: Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Weill Cornell Medical College, Pharmacology Program and Department of Radiology.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grimm
keywords: Black hole quencher; Contrast agent; Optoacoustic imaging; Photoacoustic imaging; RGD peptide; Sonophore