Graphene-based contrast agents for photoacoustic and thermoacoustic tomography and method of use
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a composition for use with photoacoustic or thermoacoustic imaging, comprising a sufficient amount of the graphene-like nanoparticles or graphitic nano- or microparticles and one or more physiologically acceptable carriers or excipients. The present invention also provides methods of using the graphene-like nanoparticles or graphitic nano- or microparticles as PAT/TAT contrast agents.
1. A method of performing thermoacoustic imaging of a subject, comprising (a) administering to said subject a sufficient amount of a composition comprising (i) a magnetic composition comprising a magnetic metal or magnetic metal compound and a graphene nanostructure, wherein the metal or metal compound is intercalated in the graphene nanostructure; and (ii) one or more physiologically acceptable carriers or excipients; and (b) imaging said subject using a photoacoustic or thermoacoustic imaging device wherein said magnetic metal or metal compound is selected from the group consisting of Mn, Gd, and Fe.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said graphene nanostructure has a thickness of 5 μm or less.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said graphene nanostructure has a thickness of 1 to 5 μm.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said graphene nanostructure has a thickness of about 20 nm or less.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said graphene nanostructure comprises 2 to 12 atomic layers of carbon.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said graphene nanostructure comprises 2 to 5 atomic layers of carbon.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said graphene nanostructure comprises 2 to 4 atomic layers of carbon.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein said graphene nanostructure is a carbon nanoplatelet.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said carbon nanoplatelet has an average diameter in the range of 5 to 100 nm.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said carbon nanoplatelet has a diameter of about 5 to 50 nm.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said carbon nanoplatelet has an average diameter of about 5-15 nm.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein said carbon nanoplatelet is an oxidized nanoplatelet.
13. The method of claim 4 , wherein said graphene nanostructure is a carbon nanoribbon.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said graphene nanostructure is a carbon nanoribbon having an average width in the range of 1 to 250 nm and an average length in the range of 200 to 5000 nm.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein said carbon nanoribbon has an average width of about 120 nm and an average length in the range of 600 to 2000 nm.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein said carbon nanoribbon is an oxidized nanoribbon.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a water solubilizing moiety attached to said graphene nanostructure.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said water solubilizing moiety is covalently attached to said graphene nanostructure.
19. The composition of claim 17 , wherein said water solubilizing moiety is selected from the group consisting of malonic acid, serinol malonodiamide, dextran, and cyclodextrins, attached to said graphene nanostructure.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is dispersed in a 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-amino(polyethylene glycol) (DSPE-PEG) or Pluronic®.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein said subject is a mammal.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein said mammal is a human.
23. A method of performing photoacoustic imaging of a subject, comprising (a) administering to said subject a sufficient amount of a composition comprising (i) a magnetic composition comprising a magnetic metal or magnetic metal compound and a graphene nanostructure, wherein the metal or metal compound is intercalated in the graphene nanostructure, wherein the graphene nanostructure is a carbon nanoribbon; and (ii) one or more physiologically acceptable carriers or excipients; and (b) imaging said subject using a photoacoustic or thermoacoustic imaging device wherein said magnetic metal or metal compound is selected from the group consisting of Mn, Gd, and Fe.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the carbon nanoribbon has a thickness of about 20 nm or less.
25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the carbon nanoribbon has an average width in the range of 1 to 250 nm and an average length in the range of 200 to 5000 nm.
26. The method of claim 23 , wherein the carbon nanoribbon has an average width of about 120 nm and an average length in the range of 600 to 2000 nm.
27. The method of claim 23 , wherein said carbon nanoribbon is an oxidized nanoribbon.
28. The method of claim 23 , wherein said subject is a mammal.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein said mammal is a human.