Rapid production of liposome encapsulated J-aggregates of indocyanine green

Abstract

Liposomal J-Aggregates of Indocyanine Green (L-JA) offer significant advantages over conventionally used monomeric indocyanine green (IcG) for photoacoustic imaging. When compared to IcG, which is often hindered by low circulation time and poor photostability, L-JA are characterized by longer circulation times, vastly improved photostability, elevated absorption at longer wavelengths, and increased photoacoustic signal generation. However, the documented methods for production of L-JA varies widely, which can lead to significant batch variability. We developed an approach to form IcG J-aggregates (IcG-JA) directly in liposomes efficiently and reproducibly at elevated temperatures. Aggregating within fully formed liposomes ensures particle uniformity and allows for the control of J-Aggregate size within the final particle. This technique provides a more robust and facile approach to producing these viable agents.