Deep-tissue anatomical imaging of mice using carbon nanotube fluorophores in the second near-infrared window
Open accessAbstract
Fluorescent imaging in the second near-infrared window (NIR II, 1–1.4 μm) holds much promise due to minimal autofluorescence and tissue scattering. Here, using well-functionalized biocompatible single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as NIR II fluorescent imaging agents, we performed high-frame-rate video imaging of mice during intravenous injection of SWNTs and investigated the path of SWNTs through the mouse anatomy. We observed in real-time SWNT circulation through the lungs and kidneys several seconds postinjection, and spleen and liver at slightly later time points. Dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging through principal component analysis (PCA) was performed and found to greatly increase the anatomical resolution of organs as a function of time postinjection. Importantly, PCA was able to discriminate organs such as the pancreas, which could not be resolved from real-time raw images. Tissue phantom studies were performed to compare imaging in the NIR II region to the traditional NIR I biological transparency window (700–900 nm). Examination of the feature sizes of a common NIR I dye (indocyanine green) showed a more rapid loss of feature contrast and integrity with increasing feature depth as compared to SWNTs in the NIR II region. The effects of increased scattering in the NIR I versus NIR II region were confirmed by Monte Carlo simulation. In vivo fluorescence imaging in the NIR II region combined with PCA analysis may represent a powerful approach to high-resolution optical imaging through deep tissues, useful for a wide range of applications from biomedical research to disease diagnostics.
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- Authors
- Welsher, K., Sherlock, S. P., & Dai, H.
- Affiliations
- Stanford University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Dai, Hongjie
- Venue
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2011-05-16
- Volume
- 108
- Issue
- 22
- Pages
- 8943-8948
- ISSN
- 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-6490
- PMC
- PMC3107273
- OpenAlex
- W2040532000
- Cited by
- 958
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 25 · 2025: 37 · 2024: 69 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 67 · 2021: 76 · 2020: 73 · 2019: 77 · 2018: 148 · 2017: 70 · 2016: 65 · 2015: 55 · 2014: 51 · 2013: 49 · 2012: 37
- FWCI
- 35.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5r01ca135109-05)
- National Cancer Institute (R01-CA135109, 5R01CA135109-02)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Spectroscopy Techniques in Biomedical and Chemical Research
- Keywords
- second near-infrared window, single-walled carbon nanotubes, mouse anatomy, dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging, principal component analysis, tissue scattering, indocyanine green, tissue phantoms, Monte Carlo simulation, in vivo fluorescence imaging
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Biocompatible Materials, Contrast Media, Fluorescent Dyes, Infrared Rays, Kidney, Liver, Lung, Mononuclear Phagocyte System, Scattering, Radiation, Spleen, Microscopy, Video, Phantoms, Imaging, Principal Component Analysis, Nanotubes, Carbon, Mice
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