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only short abstract available on SPIE website; but the video of the presentation is available 

Not AvaIn this study, a novel near-infrared (NIR) ICG-based J-aggregate contrast agent was used for photoacoustic tomography (PAT) to image whole organs in a nude mouse model. NIR-PAT obtained at the 895-nm absorption peak of our nanoparticles, we were able to resolve organs of interest that included the liver and kidney along with vasculature deeper into biological tissue while maintaining fine spatial resolution. NIR-PAT shows promising applications in small-animal functional imaging, including measuring oxygen saturation levels and studying biodistribution of contrast agents, leading to potential clinical imaging studies for drug development and delivery, and angiographic studies.ilable 

The wide-scale use of liposomal delivery systems is challenged by difficulties in obtaining potent liposomal suspensions. Passive and active loading strategies have been proposed to formulate drug encapsulated liposomes but are limited by low efficiencies (passive) or high drug specificities (active). Here, we present an efficient and universal loading strategy for synthesizing therapeutic liposomes. Integrating a thermal equilibration technique with our unique liposome synthesis approach, co-loaded targeting nanovesicles can be engineered in a scalable manner with potencies 200-fold higher than typical passive encapsulation techniques. We demonstrate this capability through simultaneous co-loading of hydrophilic and hydrophobic small molecules and targeted delivery of liposomal Doxorubicin to metastatic breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Molecular dynamic simulations are used to explain interactions between Doxorubicin and liposome membrane during thermal equilibration. By addressing the existing challenges, we have developed an unparalleled approach that will facilitate the formulation of novel theranostic and pharmaceutical strategies.