In Vivo Molecular Photoacoustic Tomography of Melanomas Targeted by Bioconjugated Gold Nanocages

• DOI: 10.1021/nn100736c
• Publication Date: 2010-07-22T11:16:04Z
• Authors: Chulhong Kim; Eun Chul Cho; Jingyi Chen; Kwang Hyun Song; Leslie Au; Christopher Favazza; Qiang Zhang; Claire M. Cobley; Feng Gao; Younan Xia; Lihong V. Wang
• Keywords: Nanocages

Early diagnosis, accurate staging, and image-guided resection of melanomas remain crucial clinical objectives for improving patient survival treatment outcomes. Conventional techniques cannot meet this demand because the low sensitivity, specificity, poor spatial resolution, shallow penetration, and/or ionizing radiation. Here we overcome such limitations by combining high-resolution photoacoustic tomography (PAT) with extraordinarily optical absorbing gold nanocages (AuNCs). When bioconjugated [Nle4,d-Phe7]-α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, AuNCs can serve as a novel contrast agent in vivo molecular PAT both exquisite sensitivity high specificity. The enhanced ∼300% more than control, PEGylated AuNCs. quantification amount accumulated was further validated inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).