Work

In vivo label-free photoacoustic microscopy of cell nuclei by excitation of DNA and RNA

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: Imaging of cell nuclei plays a critical role in cancer diagnosis and prognosis. To image noninvasively cell nuclei in vivo without staining, we developed UV photoacoustic microscopy (UV-PAM), in which 266 nm wavelength UV light excites unlabeled DNA and RNA in cell nuclei to produce photoacoustic waves. We applied UV-PAM to ex vivo imaging of cell nuclei in a mouse lip and a mouse small intestine and to in vivo imaging of the cell nuclei in the mouse skin. The UV-PAM images of unstained cell nuclei match the optical micrographs of the histologically stained cell nuclei. Given intrinsic optical contrast and high spatial resolution, in vivo label-free UV-PAM has potential for unique biological and clinical application.

Source: Optics Letters

DOI: 10.1364/ol.35.004139

Authors: Da-Kang Yao, Konstantin Maslov, Kirk K. Shung, Qifa Zhou, Lihong V. Wang

Institutions: Washington University in St. Louis, University of Southern California

Language: English

Topic: Photoacoustic and Ultrasonic Imaging

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering