Authors: Weylan Thompson, Anthony Yu, Diego S. Dumani, Jason Cook, Mark A. Anastasio, Stanislav Y. Emelianov, Sergey A. Ermilov
ABSTRACT
We present the results on development of the 3D imaging platform combining photoacoustic tomography and fluorescence (PAFT) for preclinical and biological research. This combined multimodal imaging instrument addresses known deficiencies in sensitivity, spatial resolution, and anatomical registration of the individual imaging components. Multiangle photoacoustic projections, excited by an OPO operating in the near-infrared window, of a live anesthetized animal are used to reconstruct large volumes (30 cm3) that show deep anatomical vasculature and blood-rich tissues with resolutions exceeding 150 μm. A sCMOS camera is used for simultaneous co-registered multi-angle optical imaging. The images of a fluorescent dual-contrast agent are then reconstructed into a 3D volume using a tomographic algorithm. A separate 532-nm low-energy pulsed laser excitation is used for skin topography and imaging of superficial vasculature. All three imaging channels can be combined to produce spatially accurate in vivo volumes showing an animal’s skin, deep anatomical structures, and distribution of photosensitive molecular contrast agents. PAFT’s photoacoustic sensitivity was assessed using contrast agents in a phantom study. We demonstrate biomedical imaging application of PAFT’s combined imaging modalities by observing biodistribution of a dual-contrast agent injected intravenously to in vivo preclinical murine models.