Nanomaterial-decorated micromotors for enhanced photoacoustic imaging

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Azaam Aziz - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Richard Nauber - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Ana Sánchez Iglesias - , CIBER - Center for Biomedical Research Network (Author)
  • Min Tang - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Libo Ma - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Luis M Liz-Marzán - , CIBER - Center for Biomedical Research Network, Ikerbasque Basque Foundation for Science, CIC biomaGUNE (Author)
  • Oliver G Schmidt - , TUD Dresden University of Technology, Chemnitz University of Technology (Author)
  • Mariana Medina-Sánchez - , Micro- and Nano-Biosystems (Research Group), Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)

Abstract

UNLABELLED: Micro-and nanorobots have the potential to perform non-invasive drug delivery, sensing, and surgery in living organisms, with the aid of diverse medical imaging techniques. To perform such actions, microrobots require high spatiotemporal resolution tracking with real-time closed-loop feedback. To that end, photoacoustic imaging has appeared as a promising technique for imaging microrobots in deep tissue with higher molecular specificity and contrast. Here, we present different strategies to track magnetically-driven micromotors with improved contrast and specificity using dedicated contrast agents (Au nanorods and nanostars). Furthermore, we discuss the possibility of improving the light absorption properties of the employed nanomaterials considering possible light scattering and coupling to the underlying metal-oxide layers on the micromotor's surface. For that, 2D COMSOL simulation and experimental results were correlated, confirming that an increased spacing between the Au-nanostructures and the increase of thickness of the underlying oxide layer lead to enhanced light absorption and preservation of the characteristic absorption peak. These characteristics are important when visualizing the micromotors in a complex in vivo environment, to distinguish them from the light absorption properties of the surrounding natural chromophores.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12213-023-00156-7.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)37-45
Number of pages9
Journal Journal of micro and bio robotics
Volume19
Issue number1-2
Early online date22 Apr 2023
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC10756870
Scopus 85153228179

Keywords