Real-Time in Vivo Bacterial Imaging by Computed Tomography and Fluorescence Using Phage-Gold Nanorod Bioconjugates as Contrast Agents
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Real-time in vivo imaging of bacterial infections is an important goal to aid the study and treatment of bacterial infections. Phages can be genetically engineered to ensure a particular biomolecular target specificity, and gold nanomaterials can be conjugated to phages for a variety of applications including biosensing. In this paper, we describe methods to use phage-gold nanorod conjugates for in vivo detection and imaging of the bacterial species Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice. The imaging modalities are computed tomography (CT), using gold as a contrast agent, and fluorescence, which can be applied when the FDA-approved near-infrared (NIR) dye indocyanine green (ICG) is also chemically cross-linked to the bioconjugates. In addition, rapid protocols for validating bioconjugate synthesis and the initial assessment of toxicity are given. In this example, the phage-gold nanorod probe is shown to specifically highlight P. aeruginosa without cross-reactivity to another Gram-negative organism ( V. cholerae ) in vivo and appears to be biocompatible. Phage-directed imaging probes may thus be useful for the characterization and diagnosis of bacterial infections.
Authors: Huan Peng, Shelby Vexler, Shili Xu, Irene A. Chen
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, India, National Institutes of Health, University of California, Los Angeles, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of California, Los Angeles
OpenAlex ID: W4410193477