Abstract
The field of cancer theranostics has grown rapidly in the past decade and innovative ‘biosmart’ theranostic materials are being synthesized and studied to combat the fast growth of cancer metastases. While current state-of-the-art oncology imaging techniques have decreased mortality rates, patients still face a diminished quality of life due to treatment. Therefore, improved diagnostics are needed to define in vivo tumor growths on a molecular level to achieve image-guided therapies and tailored dosage needs. This review summarizes in vivo studies that utilize contrast agents within the field of photoacoustic imaging—a relatively new imaging modality—for tumor detection, with a special focus on imaging and transducer parameters. This paper also details the different types of contrast agents used in this novel diagnostic field, i.e., organic-based, metal/inorganic-based, and dye-based contrast agents. We conclude this review by discussing the challenges and future direction of photoacoustic imaging.
Highlights
The field of cancer theranostics has grown rapidly in the past decade and innovative ‘biosmart’ theranostic materials are being synthesized and studied to combat the fast growth of cancer metastases
As laser technology became available in the 1960s, the PA effect began to be considered for practical applications
Nanomaterials 2022, 12, 393 evolution in Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is evident, which will be further discussed in this paper with a focus on PAI is evident, which will be further discussed in this paper with a focus on contrast agents contrast agents used in in vivo PAI studies
Summary
Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) [1] is a breakthrough invention in the field of bioengineering [2]. Previous reviews have summarized methods that utilize different contrast agents. PAI a low-cost, non-invasive modality thatphysiological uses non-ionizing laser power theisexcitation of target tissues; itimaging can provide real-time information power for the excitation of target tissues; it can provide real-time physiological inforsuch as blood oxygenation and other structural information of the site being studied [22]. Studies that utilize different contrast agents totissues produce an enhanced image. 2), this this review aims to the classify contrast agents in into organic-based, and review summarizes recentthese major developments. It summarizesmetal-based, the in vivo studdye-based agents with acontrast detailedagents commentary on significant points of interest. In in thethe field of exogenous contrast agentsagents for in vivo literature of tumorsof tumors
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