光声成像作为一种新型的生物医学成像技术,其成像过程结合了光学成像的高分辨率以及声学成像的深层组织穿透性能,突破了传统生物医学成像的“软极限”。然而,大多数的肿瘤,尤其是在早期阶段,并无明显的光声对比度,因此,开发出有效的外源性光声成像造影剂至关重要。基于此,研究了一种新型二维材料——锑烯纳米层片(AMNFs),它在300~900 nm波段范围内具有较好的光学吸收性,且具备优异的光热转换效率和光声性能。用此材料作为对比剂,可以实现活体小鼠体内小肿瘤的高质量光声成像。

Photoacoustic imaging, a novel biomedical imaging technique that combines the advantages of optical imaging and acoustic imaging, offers high-resolution biological tissue imaging to facilitate the observation of deeper imaging sites. In other words, it breaks the “soft limit” of conventional optical bioimaging techniques. However, many diseases, especially in the early stage, present no obvious photoacoustic contrast; therefore, it is crucial to identify effective exogenous photoacoustic contrast agents. Here we introduce a novel two-dimensional material, antimonene nanoflakes (AMNFs), which demonstrates great optical absorption from 300 nm to 900 nm as well as excellent photothermal conversion efficiency and photoacoustic performance. This material is expected to be useful as a contrast agent, helping to achieve excellent photoacoustic imaging of ultra-small tumors in vivo.