# Novel multispectral optoacoustic tomography contrast agents for evaluation of early response to radiation therapy

> **NIH NIH R43** · NIRVANA SCIENCES, INC. · 2021 · $399,997

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Vascular perfusion is a useful biomarker for assessment of many pathological conditions. Our research will
focus on development of superior contrast agents for use with Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE) Multi-
Spectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT; also known as photoacoustic imaging (PAI)) to quantitatively
measure changes in this parameter to measure early response of solid tumors to radiation therapy. This
emerging imaging technology provides outstanding temporal resolution that is critical for estimating kinetic
perfusion rates while also providing excellent spatial resolution. However, existing contrast agents for this
imaging modality possess serious performance limitations. NIRvana Sciences, Inc. proposes to develop a new
contrast agent with enhanced performance in DCE MSOT. This will include modification of existing
hydrophobic designs to optimize their water solubility, biocompatibility, and biodistribution attributes for in vivo
use. NIRvana’s agents possess sharp, narrow absorption bands in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral window and
offer the first multi-color palette of spectrally resolvable narrow spectrum agents for multiplex imaging with
MSOT with greater sensitivity. These contrast agents will provide outstanding innovations for evaluation of
changes in tumor perfusion by DCE MSOT that can indicate an early response to radiation therapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10325485
- **Project number:** 1R43CA265603-01
- **Recipient organization:** NIRVANA SCIENCES, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Joshua Akhigbe
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $399,997
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-22 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10325485

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10325485, Novel multispectral optoacoustic tomography contrast agents for evaluation of early response to radiation therapy (1R43CA265603-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10325485. Licensed CC0.

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