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A comprehensive review on nanoparticle-based photo acoustic: current application and future prospective
Sebika Panja1, Manish Sharma2, Harshika Sharma2
1Department of Biological Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat, 382355, India.
Discover Nano
|December 24, 2024
Summary
Nanoparticles (NPs) enhance photoacoustic (PA) imaging by improving deep tissue visualization and enabling precise theranostics. This review explores various NPs for advanced PA applications in disease diagnosis and therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Imaging
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Molecular imaging is crucial for biological research and therapy.
- Photoacoustic (PA) imaging offers high resolution and penetration depth but faces challenges with light penetration in tissues.
- Nanoparticles (NPs) can act as contrast agents to overcome these limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the use of various nanoparticles (organic, inorganic, and hybrid) in photoacoustic imaging and spectroscopy.
- To highlight the role of NPs in enhancing PA imaging for disease diagnosis, therapy, and theranostics.
- To discuss the optical properties, advantages, and limitations of NPs in PA techniques.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on nanoparticles for photoacoustic imaging.
- Analysis of optical properties and performance of different NP types (organic, inorganic, hybrid).
- Examination of applications in disease diagnosis, therapy, and theranostics.
Main Results:
- NPs significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in PA imaging, enabling high-resolution deep-tissue visualization.
- Various NPs demonstrate effectiveness as contrast agents for targeted and precise PA-based theranostic applications.
- NPs offer diverse optical properties suitable for a range of PA imaging and spectroscopy applications.
Conclusions:
- Nanoparticles are pivotal in advancing photoacoustic imaging, overcoming key limitations like tissue penetration depth.
- NPs facilitate targeted theranostic applications, improving disease diagnosis and treatment efficacy.
- The integration of NPs holds significant potential for translating photoacoustic techniques from laboratory research to clinical practice.

