Engineered microsphere contrast agents for optical coherence tomography.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Contrast agents are utilized in virtually every imaging modality to enhance diagnostic capabilities. We introduce a novel class of optical contrast agent, namely, encapsulating microspheres, that are based not on fluorescence but on scattering nanoparticles within the shell or core. The agents are suitable for reflection- or scattering-based techniques such as optical coherence tomography, light microscopy, and reflectance confocal microscopy. We characterize the optical properties of gold-, melanin-, and carbon-shelled contrast agents and demonstrate enhancement of optical coherence tomography imaging after intravenous injection of such an agent into a mouse.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Lee, TM; Oldenburg, AL; Sitafalwalla, S; Marks, DL; Luo, W; Toublan, FJ-J; Suslick, KS; Boppart, SA

Published Date

  • September 2003

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 28 / 17

Start / End Page

  • 1546 - 1548

PubMed ID

  • 12956374

Pubmed Central ID

  • 12956374

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1539-4794

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0146-9592

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1364/ol.28.001546

Language

  • eng