Nanoparticle

Nanoparticle contrast agent for NIR Photoacoustic Imaging and Photothermal OCT

We have synthesised nanostructures with unique and tunable optical properties, especially surface plasmons - collective conduction electron oscillations. One such plasmonic nanostructure is Nanostar with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the near infrared (NIR) region of the spectrum that lies within the second optical window (1000 – 1400 nm). Gold nanostars were utilised as contrast agent for in vivo NIR Photoacoustic Imaging and monitoring of photothermal capability of nanostars to destroy tumours in vivo by inducing localised hyperthermia. Opto-thermal simulations of NIR nanostars are being performed to investigate its photothermal efficacy by finite element method using COMSOL Multiphysics and DEVICE. Theoretical thermal relaxivity and diffusion model will then be investigated experimentally by detecting photothermal related phase changes using Photothermal OCT.