Dark-Field Hyperspectral Microscopy for Carbon Nanotubes Bioimaging

Carbon nanotubes have emerged as a versatile and ubiquitous nanomaterial, finding applications in industry and biomedicine. As a result, biosafety concerns that stimulated the research focused on evaluation of carbon nanotube toxicity. In addition, biomedical applications of carbon nanotubes require their imaging and identification in biological specimens. Among other methods, dark-field microscopy has become a potent tool to visualise and identify carbon nanotubes in cells, tissues, and organisms. Based on the Tyndall effect, dark-field optical microscopy at higher magnification is capable of imaging nanoscale particles in live objects. If reinforced with spectral identification, this technology can be utilised for chemical identification and mapping of carbon nanotubes. In this article we overview the recent advances in dark-field/hyperspectral microscopy for the bioimaging of carbon nanotubes.

Automated summary

Carbon nanotubes have become a versatile and widely used nanomaterial in industry and biomedicine, leading to concerns about biosafety and toxicity evaluation. Dark-field microscopy has emerged as a potent tool for visualizing and identifying carbon nanotubes in biological specimens. Advances in dark-field/hyperspectral microscopy have enabled chemical identification and mapping of carbon nanotubes, making it a valuable technique for bioimaging.