In vivo microwave dielectric spectroscopy of breast tumor xenografts with intra-tumoral injections of SWCNT dispersions

Abstract

We present a preliminary in vivo study of the microwave-frequency dielectric properties of mice breast tumor xenografts with accumulation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Dispersions of SWCNT-DSPE-PEG at various concentrations were injected directly into 22 tumors. Dielectric properties (1-6 GHz) before and after the injection were characterized using an open-ended coaxial probe technique. Baseline measurements (sham control and PEG only) were also conducted in 12 tumors. We found at least a ~10% relative permittivity enhancement effect upon injection of 100 μl of SWCNT stock solutions at concentrations ranging between 3 and 7 mg/ml.