Title:Opportunities for Photoacoustic-Guided Drug Delivery
VOLUME: 16 ISSUE: 6
Author(s):Jun Xia, Chulhong Kim and Jonathan F. Lovell
Affiliation:Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, USA.
Keywords:Drug delivery, image-guided therapy, optoacoustic, photoacoustic, photothermal, theranostics.
Abstract:Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is rapidly becoming established as a viable
imaging modality for small animal research, with promise of near-future human clinical
translation. In this review, we discuss emerging prospects for photoacoustic-guided
drug delivery. PAI presents opportunities for applications related to drug delivery,
mainly with respect to either monitoring drug effects or monitoring drugs themselves.
PAI is well-suited for imaging disease pathology and treatment response. Alternatively,
PAI can be used to directly monitor the accumulation of various light-absorbing contrast agents or carriers with theranostic
properties.