In vivo photoacoustic molecular imaging with targeting single-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Here we present that single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWNT) coated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) can be used as a contrast agent for photoacoustic molecular imaging. <i>In vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> experiments results show a good enhancement of the optical absorption by SWNT in photoacoustic imaging. The experimental results also show that a high contrast and a high efficient targeting of integrin &alpha;_v&beta;₃ positive U87 human glioblastoma tumours in mice could be achieved. This study suggests that photoacoustic molecular imaging with antibody functionalized SWNTs has the potential to be an effective early tumor diagnoses method.