E5-b - Near-Infrared-II (NIR-II) Emitting Nanoparticles for Image Guided Interventions

Saturday, October 11, 2025

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDT

Location: Exhibit Hall F, G & H

Presenting Author(s)

Ruhan Reddy, High School

Student @ Lubbock High School, Research Intern
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Texas, United States

Co-Author(s)

Indrajit Srivastava, PhD

Assistant Professor
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas, United States

Introduction: : Accurate intraoperative visualization of tumors remains a critical challenge across numerous cancers. Conventional visible and Near-infrared-I (NIR-I, 650-950nm) imaging systems often suffer from limited tissue penetration depth, high scattering, and background autofluorescence, all factors that have been shown to compromise surgical outcomes. Conversely, recent advances in the second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-1700nm) have been shown to address these limitations, enabling deeper tissue imaging, reduced autofluorescence, and an enhanced signal-to-background ratio. This study explores the nanoengineering of NIR-II emitting nanoparticles, with an emphasis on protein nanoengineering techniques to enhance their physicochemical properties, colloidal stability, and clinical potential.

Materials and

Methods: : This study details the process of engineering these NIR-II emitting nanoparticles for surgical interventions, including the process of protein and lipid encapsulation with BSA and DSPE-PEG, and various analysis methods through characterization and imaging tools, like dynamic light scattering (DLS), Zeta potential, UV-Vis NIR spectroscopy, and IR-Vivo NIR-II fluorescence imaging.

Results, Conclusions, and Discussions:: NIR-II emitting nanoparticles demonstrated distinct advantages in bioimaging performance, compared to traditional visible and NIR-I systems. These particles result in brighter signal intensity, reduced background noise, and deeper tissue penetration. Protein encapsulation with BSA further enhances the properties, including optical performances without requiring complex chemical modifications. NIR-II emitting nanoparticles show promising optical and biocompatibility properties for future translation into image-guided surgical tools. This work highlights the importance of engineering nanoparticles to optimize performance in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in biomedical environments.

Acknowledgements and/or References (Optional): : Sincere thanks to Dr. Indrajit Srivastava, The Srivastava Lab, and the Whitacre College of Engineering at Texas Tech University.