Multiplexed imaging of surface enhanced Raman scattering nanotags in living mice using noninvasive Raman spectroscopy

Cristina L. Zavaleta, Bryan R. Smith, Ian Walton, William Doering, Glenn Davis, Borzoyeh Shojaei, Michael J. Natan, Sanjiv S. Gambhir

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

647 Scopus citations

Abstract

Raman spectroscopy is a newly developed, noninvasive preclinical imaging technique that offers picomolar sensitivity and multiplexing capabilities to the field of molecular imaging. In this study, we demonstrate the ability of Raman spectroscopy to separate the spectral fingerprints of up to 10 different types of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoparticles in a living mouse after s.c. injection. Based on these spectral results, we simultaneously injected the five most intense and spectrally unique SERS nanoparticles i.v. to image their natural accumulation in the liver. All five types of SERS nanoparticles were successfully identified and spectrally separated using our optimized noninvasive Raman imaging system. In addition, we were able to linearly correlate Raman signal with SERS concentration after injecting four spectrally unique SERS nanoparticles either s.c. (R2 = 0.998) or i.v. (R2 = 0.992). These results show great potential for multiplexed imaging in living subjects in cases in which several targeted SERS probes could offer better detection of multiple biomarkers associated with a specific disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)13511-13516
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume106
Issue number32
DOIs
StatePublished - 11 Aug 2009
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Cancer InstituteU54CA119367

    Keywords

    • Imaging in vivo
    • Multiplex
    • Nanoparticles
    • SERS

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Multiplexed imaging of surface enhanced Raman scattering nanotags in living mice using noninvasive Raman spectroscopy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this