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In Vivo Optical Detection and Spectral Triangulation of Carbon Nanotubes
Ching-Wei Lin, Hailing Yang1, Stephen R Sanchez
1Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center , Houston, Texas 77030, United States.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|November 14, 2017
Summary
Researchers demonstrated spectral triangulation to noninvasively locate single-walled carbon nanotubes in mouse ovaries. This optical method achieves sub-millimeter accuracy for potential early ovarian cancer detection and tumor imaging.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Nanotechnology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Noninvasive imaging techniques are crucial for early disease detection.
- Single-walled carbon nanotubes offer unique optical properties for bioimaging.
- Accurate localization of probes within tissues remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate spectral triangulation for in vivo localization of single-walled carbon nanotubes.
- To assess the accuracy and sensitivity of this optical method for biomedical applications.
- To explore the potential for early ovarian cancer detection and metastasis identification.
Main Methods:
- Surgically implanting biocompatible composites of single-walled carbon nanotubes in Matrigel into mouse ovaries.
- Utilizing a second-generation optical scanner with a 736 nm light-emitting diode matrix for excitation.
- Collecting and spectrally filtering short-wave infrared fluorescence from nanotubes.
- Detecting fluorescence with a photon-counting InGaAs avalanche photodiode.
- Validating results with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Main Results:
- Achieved noninvasive detection and 3D localization of implanted nanotubes.
- Demonstrated a detection limit of approximately 120 pg of nanotubes beneath 3 mm of tissue.
- Obtained sub-millimeter accuracy in mass and location determination via spectral triangulation.
- Validated accuracy using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data.
Conclusions:
- Spectral triangulation is a viable method for noninvasive in vivo localization of nanotube-based probes.
- This technique shows promise for preclinical tumor imaging and early ovarian cancer detection.
- Dual-modality imaging combining spectral triangulation with MRI or CT can improve anatomical registration.
