Biocompatible gold nanomaterials for optoacoustic imaging (OAI)

[[abstract]]Gold nanomaterials are slowly building a niche for themselves as imaging probes for a relatively new modality - optoacoustic imaging. In OAI, the object of interest is exposed to near-infrared laser light, similar to optical imaging, but the resulting image is formed by measuring the acoustic signals produced by the absorption of pulsed optical energy in the tissue or by a molecular imaging probe. This technique has the potential for better resolution, better sensitivity and penetration over the traditional optical imaging techniques. With tunable absorption wavelengths in the near-IR between 750-950 nm, gold nanorods (GNR) in particular, have already shown tremendous promise as exogenous contrast agents for optoacoustic imaging. Here, we describe the design and development of a new targeted and biocompatible GNR-based imaging probe for OAI. We will also discuss preliminary optoacoustic spectroscopy data for the probe