PHOTOACOUSTIC CONTRAST AGENTS FOR MOLECULAR IMAGING

摘要

Compositions of photoacoustic tomography (PAT) contrast agents, and methods of achieving contrast enhancement and amplification of photo-induced acoustic signal for in vivo photoacoustic imaging of animals and human subjects are provided. Contrast agents of interest are organic-based agents, which may be targeted or non-targeted, e.g. protein-based and/or lipid-based molecules, in combination with an inorganic core, e.g. a metal or silicon core, herein referred to as a composite PAT contrast agent. Preferred agents absorb in the near IR spectrum, e.g. from around about 650 nm to around about 800 nm, for example from about 720 to about 790 nm. In some embodiments of the invention, the organic component is a lipid composition, which optionally comprises one or more targeting moieties. In some embodiments the inorganic core is gold or another noble metal, e.g. silver, platinum, etc.