Deep in vivo two-photon imaging of blood vessels with a new dye encapsulated in pluronic nanomicelles

J Biomed Opt. 2011 Mar;16(3):036001. doi: 10.1117/1.3548879.

Abstract

Our purpose is to test if Pluronic® fluorescent nanomicelles can be used for in vivo two-photon imaging of both the normal and the tumor vasculature. The nanomicelles were obtained after encapsulating a hydrophobic two-photon dye: di-stryl benzene derivative, in Pluronic block copolymers. Their performance with respect to imaging depth, blood plasma staining, and diffusion across the tumor vascular endothelium is compared to a classic blood pool dye Rhodamin B dextran (70 kDa) using two-photon microscopy. Pluronic nanomicelles show, like Rhodamin B dextran, a homogeneous blood plasma staining for at least 1 h after intravenous injection. Their two-photon imaging depth is similar in normal mouse brain, using 10 times less injected mass. In contrast with Rhodamin B dextran, no extravasation is observed in leaky tumor vessels due to their large size: 20-100 nm. In conclusion, Pluronic nanomicelles can be used as a blood pool dye, even in leaky tumor vessels. The use of Pluronic block copolymers is a valuable approach for encapsulating two-photon fluorescent dyes that are hydrophobic and not suitable for intravenous injection.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Vessels / anatomy & histology*
  • Blood Volume Determination
  • Brain / blood supply
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dextrans
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Fluorescent Dyes*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Micelles
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods*
  • Nanostructures
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / blood supply
  • Optical Phenomena
  • Photons
  • Poloxamer
  • Rhodamines
  • Styrenes

Substances

  • Dextrans
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Micelles
  • Rhodamines
  • Styrenes
  • distyrylbenzene
  • rhodamine dextran
  • Poloxamer