Abstract
AbstractWhile the tissue-transparent fluorescence of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) imparts substantial potential for use in non-invasive biosensors, development of non-invasive systems is yet to be realized. Here, we investigated the functionality of a SWCNT-based nanosensor in several injectable SWCNT-hydrogel systems, ultimately finding SWCNT encapsulation in a sulfonated methylcellulose hydrogel optimal for detection of ions, small molecules, and proteins. We found that the hydrogel system and nanosensor signal were stable for several weeks in live mice. We then found that this system successfully detects local injections of the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin in mice. We anticipate future studies to adapt this device for detection of other analytes in animals and, ultimately, patients.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory