Extremely High Two-Photon Absorbing Graphene Oxide for Imaging of Tumor Cells in the Second Biological Window

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Optical Imaging

Background:

• Cancer is a global health challenge requiring advanced diagnostic tools.
• Near-infrared (NIR) light imaging offers improved depth penetration for tumor visualization.
• Targeted imaging is crucial for accurate breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel two-photon imaging approach for selective breast tumor cell detection.
• To utilize aptamer-conjugated graphene oxide for enhanced imaging capabilities.
• To evaluate the efficacy of the developed system in distinguishing cancer cells.

Main Methods:

• Conjugation of S6 RNA aptamers with graphene oxide.
• Characterization of two-photon absorption properties of the conjugated material.
• Two-photon fluorescence imaging of breast tumor cells (SK-BR-3 and MDA-MB-231) using 1100 nm wavelength.
• Assessment of imaging stability and selectivity.

Main Results:

• Aptamer-conjugated graphene oxide exhibited exceptionally high two-photon absorption (σ2PA = 46890 GM).
• The two-photon luminescence signal remained stable for over 2 hours of illumination.
• Selective two-photon imaging of SK-BR-3 breast tumor cells was achieved in the second biological transparency window.
• The system effectively distinguished targeted SK-BR-3 cells from non-targeted MDA-MB-231 cells.

Conclusions:

• Aptamer-conjugated graphene oxide is a promising platform for selective two-photon imaging of breast cancer.
• The developed method offers high sensitivity, stability, and specificity for cancer cell detection.
• This technique holds potential for advancing clinical tumor diagnostics and improving patient outcomes.