Light in, sound out: molecular probe targets disease using photoacoustics

Jefferson Chan and his team are creating small-molecule photoacoustic probes that, when excited by laser light, emit sound waves that help them non-invasively detect the biomarkers of harmful substances in the body. Recent work successfully targeted excess copper in tissue, like that found in the livers of Wilson's disease sufferers. Chan is an Associate Professor of Chemistry and a member of the Photoacoustic Imaging group at the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois.

To read more about this work, visit:
https://beckman.illinois.edu/about/news/article/2021/09/30/small-molecule-probe-is-safe-biopsy-alternative-monitors-disease-progression-in-real-time