Fast ICCD-based temperature modulated fluorescence tomography.

Fluorescence tomography (FT) has become a powerful preclinical imaging modality with a great potential for several clinical applications. Although it has superior sensitivity and utilizes low-cost instrumentation, the highly scattering nature of bio-tissue makes FT in thick samples challenging, resulting in poor resolution and low quantitative accuracy. To overcome the limitations of FT, we previously introduced a novel method, termed temperature modulated fluorescence tomography (TMFT), which is based on two key elements: (1) temperature-sensitive fluorescent agents (ThermoDots) and (2) high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).

Development of a preclinical CCD-based temperature modulated fluorescence tomography platform.

In preclinical research, fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is the most sensitive imaging modality to interrogate whole-body and provide 3D distribution of fluorescent contract agents. Despite its superior sensitivity, its mediocre spatial-resolution has been the main barrier to its clinical translation. This limitation is mainly due to the high scattering of optical photons in biological tissue together with the limited boundary measurements that lead to an undetermined and ill-posed inverse problem.

A thermo-sensitive fluorescent agent based method for excitation light leakage rejection for fluorescence molecular tomography.

Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is widely used in preclinical oncology research. FMT is the only imaging technique able to provide 3D distribution of fluorescent probes within thick highly scattering media. However, its integration into clinical medicine has been hampered by its low spatial resolution caused by the undetermined and ill-posed nature of its reconstruction algorithm.

Feasibility study of high spatial resolution multimodality fluorescence tomography in ex vivo biological tissue.

Previously, we demonstrated that temperature-modulated fluorescence tomography (TM-FT) could provide fluorescence images with high quantitative accuracy and the spatial resolution of focused ultrasound. TM-FT is based on scanning the focused ultrasound across the medium to activate temperature-reversible fluorescent nanoprobes (ThermoDots). This technique can resolve small fluorescent targets located several centimeters deep in turbid media with millimeter resolution.

Experimental evaluation of the resolution and quantitative accuracy of temperature-modulated fluorescence tomography.

Previously, we reported on the spatial resolution and quantitative accuracy of temperature-modulated fluorescence tomography (TM-FT) using simulation studies. TM-FT is a novel fully integrated multimodality imaging technique that combines fluorescence diffuse optical tomography (FT) with focused ultrasound. Utilizing unique thermo-reversible fluorescent nanocapsules (ThermoDots), TM-FT provides high-resolution cross-sectional fluorescence images in thick tissue (up to 6 cm).

Differentiation of tumor vasculature heterogeneity levels in small animals based on total hemoglobin concentration using magnetic resonance-guided diffuse optical tomography in vivo.

Insight into the vasculature of the tumor in small animals has the potential to impact many areas of cancer research. The heterogeneity of the vasculature of a tumor is directly related to tumor stage and disease progression. In this small scale animal study, we investigated the feasibility of differentiating tumors with different levels of vasculature heterogeneity in vivo using a previously developed hybrid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffuse optical tomography (DOT) system for small animal imaging.

Implementation of a new scanning method for high-resolution fluorescence tomography using thermo-sensitive fluorescent agents.

Conventional fluorescence tomography provides images of the distribution of fluorescent agents within highly scattering media, but suffers from poor spatial resolution. Previously, we introduced a new method termed "temperature-modulated fluorescence tomography" (TM-FT) that generates fluorescence images with high spatial resolution. TM-FT first uses focused ultrasound to locate the distribution of temperature-sensitive fluorescence probes.

Simulation-based evaluation of the resolution and quantitative accuracy of temperature-modulated fluorescence tomography.

Conventional fluorescence tomography (FT) can recover the distribution of fluorescent agents within a highly scattering medium. However, poor spatial resolution remains its foremost limitation. Previously, we introduced a new fluorescence imaging technique termed "temperature-modulated fluorescence tomography" (TM-FT), which provides high-resolution images of fluorophore distribution.

Temperature-modulated fluorescence tomography based on both concentration and lifetime contrast.

It is challenging to image fluorescence objects with high spatial resolution in a highly scattering medium. Recently reported temperature-sensitive indocyanine green-loaded pluronic nanocapsules can potentially alleviate this problem. Here we demonstrate a frequency-domain temperature-modulated fluorescence tomography system that could acquire images at high intensity-focused ultrasound resolution with use of these nanocapsules.

Temperature-modulated fluorescence tomography in a turbid media.

High scattering in biological tissues makes fluorescence tomography inverse problem very challenging in thick medium. We describe an approach termed "temperature-modulated fluorescence tomography" that can acquire fluorescence images at focused ultrasound resolution. By utilizing recently emerged temperature sensitive fluorescence contrast agents, this technique provides fluorescence images with high resolution prior to any reconstruction process.