In vitro and in vivo two-photon luminescence imaging of single gold nanorods

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Nov 1;102(44):15752-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0504892102. Epub 2005 Oct 20.

Abstract

Gold nanorods excited at 830 nm on a far-field laser-scanning microscope produced strong two-photon luminescence (TPL) intensities, with a cos(4) dependence on the incident polarization. The TPL excitation spectrum can be superimposed onto the longitudinal plasmon band, indicating a plasmon-enhanced two-photon absorption cross section. The TPL signal from a single nanorod is 58 times that of the two-photon fluorescence signal from a single rhodamine molecule. The application of gold nanorods as TPL imaging agents is demonstrated by in vivo imaging of single nanorods flowing in mouse ear blood vessels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Circulation
  • Blood Vessels
  • Diagnostic Imaging / methods*
  • Ear / blood supply
  • Female
  • Fluorescence Polarization
  • Gold*
  • Luminescent Measurements / methods*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods
  • Nanostructures

Substances

  • Gold