What is it about?
This work details the engineering of an exogenous contrast agent platform composed of FDA-approved dye that can be easily synthesized and functionalized with targeting molecules, has tunable sizes, and maximum optical absorption in the near-infrared region. This allows imaging of deep tissues with greater contrast using photoacoustic imaging.
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Photo by Quang Tri NGUYEN on Unsplash
Why is it important?
By 2050, cancer is projected to be the biggest pandemic ailing the world. One of the ways to improve patient outcomes and their five-year prognosis is through early diagnosis of tumors. Our biocompatible contrast agent equips healthcare professionals with the ability to image deep tumors in real-time, and conduct biopsies and sentinel lymph node imaging to determine the extent of metastasis using photoacoustic imaging.Additionally, the contrast agent has an easy route of synthesis, can be scaled for industrial manufacture, has controlled sizes and can be stored for future use.
Perspectives
The easy synthesis, size-tuning, and targeting properties of the platform make this a great industrial manufacturing product.
Dr. Shrishti Singh
George Mason University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Size-tunable ICG-based contrast agent platform for targeted near-infrared photoacoustic imaging., Photoacoustics, February 2023, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.pacs.2022.100437.
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Resources
Mason bioengineering PhD achieves her dream of developing a technology that aids in cancer diagnoses
Article featuring the first author of the work.
Our technology is representing George Mason University in STAT Madness 2023, Vote NOW!
The contrast agent platform described has been selected among the 64 best in medical technology in the United States. Please vote for us!
Contributors
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