Radioluminescent gold nanocages with controlled radioactivity for real-time in vivo imaging

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Yucai Wang, Emory University; Yongjian Liu, Washington University; Hannah Luehmann, Washington University; Dehui Wan, Emory University; Cathy Cutler, University of Missouri; Xiaohu Xia, Emory University; Younan Xia, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-02-13
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2013 American Chemical Society.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/nl304111v
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Nano Letters
• ISSN: 1530-6984
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 2
• Start Page: 581
• End Page: 585
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported in part by a research grant from the NCI (R01 CA13852701); a 2006 NIH Director’s Pioneer Award (DP1 OD000798); and startup funds from Georgia Institute of Technology.
• Keywords: Polyethylene Glycols; Time Factors; Radiopharmaceuticals; Molecular Imaging; Female; Metal Nanoparticles; Mice; Gold Radioisotopes; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental; Animals; Luminescent Measurements; Technology, Radiologic
• Research Categories: Engineering, Biomedical; Health Sciences, Radiology

Abstract

Cerenkov luminescence imaging based on light emission from the decay of radionuclides has recently drawn great interest in molecular imaging. In this paper, we report for the first time the Cerenkov luminescence phenomenon of 198Au isotope, as well as a facile route to the preparation of radioluminescent Au nanocages without additional radiolabeling or dye conjugation. The specific radioactivity of the Au nanocages could be easily and precisely controlled by varying the concentration of H198AuCl 4 precursor used for the galvanic replacement reaction. The direct incorporation of 198Au atoms into the structure of Au nanocages enabled the ability of accurate analysis and real-time imaging in vivo. Furthermore, under biological conditions the radioactive Au nanocages were shown to emit light with wavelengths in the visible and near-infrared regions, enabling luminescence imaging of the whole mice in vivo, as well as the organs ex vivo. When combined with their favorable scattering and absorption properties in the near-infrared region, the radioactive Au nanocages can serve as a new platform for multimodality imaging and will have a significant impact on both small animal and clinical imaging.