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A route to brightly fluorescent carbon nanotubes for near-infrared imaging in mice.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Welsher, K; Liu, Z; Sherlock, SP; Robinson, JT; Chen, Z; Daranciang, D; Dai, H
Published in: Nature nanotechnology
November 2009

The near-infrared photoluminescence intrinsic to semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes is ideal for biological imaging owing to the low autofluorescence and deep tissue penetration in the near-infrared region beyond 1 microm. However, biocompatible single-walled carbon nanotubes with high quantum yield have been elusive. Here, we show that sonicating single-walled carbon nanotubes with sodium cholate, followed by surfactant exchange to form phospholipid-polyethylene glycol coated nanotubes, produces in vivo imaging agents that are both bright and biocompatible. The exchange procedure is better than directly sonicating the tubes with the phospholipid-polyethylene glycol, because it results in less damage to the nanotubes and improves the quantum yield. We show whole-animal in vivo imaging using an InGaAs camera in the 1-1.7 microm spectral range by detecting the intrinsic near-infrared photoluminescence of the 'exchange' single-walled carbon nanotubes at a low dose (17 mg l(-1) injected dose). The deep tissue penetration and low autofluorescence background allowed high-resolution intravital microscopy imaging of tumour vessels beneath thick skin.

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Published In

Nature nanotechnology

DOI

EISSN

1748-3395

ISSN

1748-3387

Publication Date

November 2009

Volume

4

Issue

11

Start / End Page

773 / 780

Related Subject Headings

  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman
  • Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
  • Molecular Imaging
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Mice
  • Luminescent Measurements
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Welsher, K., Liu, Z., Sherlock, S. P., Robinson, J. T., Chen, Z., Daranciang, D., & Dai, H. (2009). A route to brightly fluorescent carbon nanotubes for near-infrared imaging in mice. Nature Nanotechnology, 4(11), 773–780. https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2009.294
Welsher, Kevin, Zhuang Liu, Sarah P. Sherlock, Joshua Tucker Robinson, Zhuo Chen, Dan Daranciang, and Hongjie Dai. “A route to brightly fluorescent carbon nanotubes for near-infrared imaging in mice.Nature Nanotechnology 4, no. 11 (November 2009): 773–80. https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2009.294.
Welsher K, Liu Z, Sherlock SP, Robinson JT, Chen Z, Daranciang D, et al. A route to brightly fluorescent carbon nanotubes for near-infrared imaging in mice. Nature nanotechnology. 2009 Nov;4(11):773–80.
Welsher, Kevin, et al. “A route to brightly fluorescent carbon nanotubes for near-infrared imaging in mice.Nature Nanotechnology, vol. 4, no. 11, Nov. 2009, pp. 773–80. Epmc, doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.294.
Welsher K, Liu Z, Sherlock SP, Robinson JT, Chen Z, Daranciang D, Dai H. A route to brightly fluorescent carbon nanotubes for near-infrared imaging in mice. Nature nanotechnology. 2009 Nov;4(11):773–780.

Published In

Nature nanotechnology

DOI

EISSN

1748-3395

ISSN

1748-3387

Publication Date

November 2009

Volume

4

Issue

11

Start / End Page

773 / 780

Related Subject Headings

  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman
  • Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
  • Molecular Imaging
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Mice
  • Luminescent Measurements
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Humans