Semiconducting Polymer Nanoparticles for Centimeters-Deep Photoacoustic Imaging in the Second Near-Infrared Window

5 years ago

Semiconducting Polymer Nanoparticles for Centimeters-Deep Photoacoustic Imaging in the Second Near-Infrared Window

Saadia T. Chaudhry, Jianguo Mei, Jiayingzi Wu, Ji-Xin Cheng, Hyeon Jeong Lee, Lu Lan, Liyan You, Rui Li

Thienoisoindigo-based semiconducting polymer with a strong near-infrared absorbance is synthesized and its water-dispersed nanoparticles (TSPNs) are investigated as a contrast agent for photoacoustic (PA) imaging in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window (1000–1350 nm). The TSPNs generate a strong PA signal in the NIR-II optical window, where background signals from endogenous contrast agents, including blood and lipid, are at the local minima. By embedding a TSPN-containing tube in chicken-breast tissue, an imaging depth of more than 5 cm at 1064 nm excitation is achieved with a contrast-agent concentration as low as 40 µg mL−1. The TSPNs under the skin or in the tumor are clearly visualized at 1100 and 1300 nm, with negligible interference from the tissue background. TSPN as a PA contrast in the NIR-II window opens new opportunities for biomedical imaging of deep tissues with improved contrast. Thienoisoindigo-based semiconducting polymer nanoparticles with strong absorption between 1000 and 1350 nm are developed for photoacoustic imaging. These nanoparticles enable imaging in centimeters-deep tissue with negligible interference from the tissue background. This work may pave the way to applications of in vivo photoacoustic imaging in theragnosis.

Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi

DOI: 10.1002/adma.201703403