For diagnostic imaging or visualization of stem-cell-based therapeutic technologies, the ability to image at the micron scale in complicated biological environments is important. Targeted contrast agents can improve spatial resolution using existing technologies such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and confocal reflectance microscopy. While molecular contrast agents have been used for a wide variety of imaging applications, they have small scattering ratios and are not ideal for OCT where image contrast is based on high scattering and absorption. Consequently, contrast agents with high scattering efficiency, absorption, or backscattering are critically needed. More recently, nanomaterials have garnered significant interest in OCT imaging because of their high scattering ratios and reflectance properties. While some studies show that size and metal core composition are important for high reflectance there is still a gap in knowledge regarding how the concentration, physicochemical (size, shape, metal core composition) properties of nanomaterials, and surface coatings, as well as their behavior in physiological environments, influence their reflectance. In this study, the reflectance spectra of silver and gold nanoparticles (20 to 80 nm) shaped as spheres, rods, cubes, or triangles in varying physiological environments will be compared. These studies fill gaps in knowledge that will allow researchers to identify new materials for high-resolution OCT contrast agents for labeling therapeutic stem cells to visually track their migration and survival <i>in vivo</i>.

Physicochemical features of nanomaterials have an effect on their reflectance properties

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