A brain tumor molecular imaging strategy using a new triple-modality MRI-photoacoustic-Raman nanoparticle. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The difficulty in delineating brain tumor margins is a major obstacle in the path toward better outcomes for patients with brain tumors. Current imaging methods are often limited by inadequate sensitivity, specificity and spatial resolution. Here we show that a unique triple-modality magnetic resonance imaging-photoacoustic imaging-Raman imaging nanoparticle (termed here MPR nanoparticle) can accurately help delineate the margins of brain tumors in living mice both preoperatively and intraoperatively. The MPRs were detected by all three modalities with at least a picomolar sensitivity both in vitro and in living mice. Intravenous injection of MPRs into glioblastoma-bearing mice led to MPR accumulation and retention by the tumors, with no MPR accumulation in the surrounding healthy tissue, allowing for a noninvasive tumor delineation using all three modalities through the intact skull. Raman imaging allowed for guidance of intraoperative tumor resection, and a histological correlation validated that Raman imaging was accurately delineating the brain tumor margins. This new triple-modality-nanoparticle approach has promise for enabling more accurate brain tumor imaging and resection.

publication date

  • April 15, 2012

Research

keywords

  • Brain Neoplasms
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Metal Nanoparticles
  • Molecular Imaging
  • Photoacoustic Techniques
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC3422133

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84860656951

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1038/nm.2721

PubMed ID

  • 22504484

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 18

issue

  • 5