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A research team at George Mason University is working to move a promising medical imaging technology closer to real-world use, supported by a new grant from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC).
Associate Professor Remi Veneziano and Professor Parag Chitnis in the Department of Bioengineering received a Tier 2 VIPC award to advance the development of a contrast agent for photoacoustic imaging. The two-year, $200,000 grant will support efforts to scale-up production and demonstrate that the material can be manufactured consistently for translation outside of a laboratory setting.
If successful, the work could provide a standardized, scalable contrast agent for photoacoustic imaging and expand its use across biomedical research.
Photoacoustic imaging combines light and ultrasound to visualize biological tissues. While the technique can detect naturally occurring molecules such as hemoglobin, it lacks widely available contrast agents that can target specific tissues or disease sites. As a result, researchers often create their own materials, which vary from lab to lab.
Veneziano began working on the problem about eight years ago with collaborators at George Mason. His team focused on developing a contrast agent using indocyanine green, an FDA-approved dye. Instead of relying on complex chemical processes, the group created a method based on self-assembly, allowing the dye molecules to form aggregates with controlled size and surface properties.
“We figured out a method to control the size of the assembly without the need for complex chemistry,” Veneziano said. “When you reduce the chemicals and the number of steps, you make it easier for manufacturing and future approval or at least to make something safer.”
The team refined the process to the point where researchers in the lab can reliably produce aggregates with specific characteristics tailored for specific applications. Early funding, including a previous VIPC Tier 1 award and a university seed grant, supported initial development and validation. The group published its findings in 2023 and began building collaborations with other researchers.
A key step in the work involved combining standard indocyanine green dye molecules with modified versions of this dye that allow for additional functionality, such as targeting specific cells or adding other fluorescent molecules. That approach helped turn the material into a more flexible platform that can be adapted for different research needs.
The current grant focuses on what Veneziano described as the transition from a “lab product” to something that could be used more broadly. That includes demonstrating reproducibility across batches, establishing quality control standards, and determining how long the material can be stored without losing effectiveness.
“When you want to commercialize a product, you need to demonstrate reproducibility and quality control,” he said. “From one batch to another batch, you always want the same properties.”
Veneziano and his collaborators are also working with George Mason’s Office of Technology Transfer and filed a patent application related to the technology. The team founded a startup, NanOptical Biomedical Inc., to pursue commercialization, and the team plans to seek additional funding through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.
At the same time, the research continues to evolve. The team is working with collaborators to adapt the platform for different applications, including adding fluorescent capabilities and improving targeting for specific diseases. “We are at a stage where we are learning from them, from their experience, from what they need, how to make our particle better,” Veneziano said.