Biocompatible polypyrrole nanoparticles as a novel organic photoacoustic contrast agent for deep tissue imaging

Zhengbao Zha, Zijian Deng, Yanyan Li, Changhui Li, Jinrui Wang, Shumin Wang, Enze Qu, Zhifei Dai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

196 Scopus citations

Abstract

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) has emerged as a hybrid, nonionizing imaging modality because of its satisfactory spatial resolution and high soft tissue contrast. Here, we demonstrate the application of a novel organic PAT contrast agent based on polypyrrole nanoparticles (PPy NPs). Monodisperse PPy NPs are ∼46 nm in diameter with strong absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) range, which allowed visualization of PPy NP-containing agar gel embedded in chicken breast muscle at a depth of ∼4.3 cm. Compared with PAT images based on the intrinsic optical contrast in mice, the PAT images acquired within 1 h after intravenous administration of PPy NPs showed the brain vasculature with greater clarity than hemoglobin in blood. Preliminary results showed no acute toxicity to the vital organs (heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys) in mice following a single imaging dose of PPy NPs. Our results indicate that PPy NPs are promising contrast agents for PAT with good biocompatibility, high spatial resolution and enhanced sensitivity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4462-4467
Number of pages6
JournalNanoscale
Volume5
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - May 21 2013
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science

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