Multiwavelength photoacoustic imaging and plasmon resonance coupling of gold nanoparticles for selective detection of cancer.

Gold nanoparticles targeting epidermal growth factor receptor via antibody conjugation undergo molecular specific aggregation when they bind to receptors on cell surfaces, leading to a red shift in their plasmon resonance frequency. Capitalizing on this effect, we demonstrate the efficacy of the molecular specific photoacoustic imaging technique using subcutaneous tumor-mimicking gelatin implants in ex-vivo mouse tissue. The results of our study suggest that highly selective and sensitive detection of cancer cells is possible using multiwavelength photoacoustic imaging and molecular specific gold nanoparticles.