Ultra-high-frequency radio-frequency acoustic molecular imaging with saline nanodroplets in living subjects

Yun Sheng Chen, Yang Zhao, Corinne Beinat, Aimen Zlitni, En Chi Hsu, Dong Hua Chen, Friso Achterberg, Hanwei Wang, Tanya Stoyanova, Jennifer Dionne, Sanjiv Sam Gambhir

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Molecular imaging is a crucial technique in clinical diagnostics but it relies on radioactive tracers or strong magnetic fields that are unsuitable for many patients, particularly infants and pregnant women. Ultra-high-frequency radio-frequency acoustic (UHF-RF-acoustic) imaging using non-ionizing RF pulses allows deep-tissue imaging with sub-millimetre spatial resolution. However, lack of biocompatible and targetable contrast agents has prevented the successful in vivo application of UHF-RF-acoustic imaging. Here we report our development of targetable nanodroplets for UHF-RF-acoustic molecular imaging of cancers. We synthesize all-liquid nanodroplets containing hypertonic saline that are stable for at least 2 weeks and can produce high-intensity UHF-RF-acoustic signals. Compared with concentration-matched iron oxide nanoparticles, our nanodroplets produce at least 1,600 times higher UHF-RF-acoustic signals at the same imaging depth. We demonstrate in vivo imaging using the targeted nanodroplets in a prostate cancer xenograft mouse model expressing gastrin release protein receptor (GRPR), and show that targeting specificity is increased by more than 2-fold compared with untargeted nanodroplets or prostate cancer cells not expressing this receptor.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)717-724
Number of pages8
JournalNature Nanotechnology
Volume16
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Ultra-high-frequency radio-frequency acoustic molecular imaging with saline nanodroplets in living subjects'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this