Dual-modality photothermal optical coherence tomography and magnetic-resonance imaging of carbon nanotubes

We demonstrate polyethylene-glycol-coated single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as contrast agents for both photothermal optical coherence tomography (OCT) and magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI). Photothermal OCT was accomplished with a spectral domain OCT system with an amplitude-modulated 750 nm pump beam using 10 mW of power, and T-2 MRI was achieved with a 4.7 T animal system. Photothermal OCT and T-2 MRI achieved sensitivities of nanomolar concentrations to CNTs dispersed in amine-terminated polyethylene glycol, thus establishing the potential for dual-modality molecular imaging with CNTs. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America