Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is a sensitive and rapid imaging tool. PAT is a hybrid technique that involves acoustic detection of light absorption by endogenous chromophores like oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin or exogenous contrast agents like nanoparticles and organic dyes. It is an emerging tool that finds widespread applications in preclinical research.
In the PAT technique, optical absorption contrast is measured and used to reveal the functional, anatomical, histological, and metabolic properties of a tissue. Micro-PAT imaging can be applied to visualize cells, organelles, organs, or tissues in small animals.
Principles of micro-PAT
In the micro-PAT technique, short laser pulses are applied to the sample tissue. Photoacoustic signals are generated when the sample absorbs light. The light is transformed into heat energy, which causes a rise in temperature and thermoelastic expansion, which is proportional to the wavelength of the optical source initially used. This results in the emission of ultrasound waves from the sample tissue. The ultrasound signals can be captured by a transducer. Hemoglobin, water, and melanin are typical optical absorbers present in endogenous tissue.
Strengths of micro-PAT
Micro-PAT combines the high spatial resolution of acoustic imaging with the excellent sensitivity of optical imaging
It is a fully non-invasive technique and hence ideal for brain tumor studies
Micro-PAT penetrates deeper and offers better spatial resolution than purely optical techniques fluorescence tomography
It offers better optical contrast with lesser artefacts than ultrasonic imaging tools
Micro-PAT uses non-ionizing light source and is safer compared to tools such as positron emission tomography (PET) and X-ray computed tomography
It is also more rapid and and is less expensive than MRI
Being a hybrid technique, it can distinguish between different types of tissues, track contrast agents, and also identify hemodynamic responses
Applications of micro-PAT
Micro-PAT imaging technology has widespread applications in various fields of medicine such as oncology, vascular biology, neurology, dermatology, ophthalmology, and cardiology. Micro-PAT has enabled many clinical and life science research studies in small animals. This tool has evolved greatly over recent years and contributed to a lot of modern research work in chemistry, biology, and nanotechnology.
Some of the key biomedical applications of micro-PAT are as follows:
High-resolution imaging of superficial organs such as the skin
Cancer cells detection and imaging, which enables early detection of cancer
Imaging small animals and measuring key biochemical information using optical absorption data
Structural, functional, and molecular imaging of pathological tissues such as tumor cells
Weaknesses of micro-PAT technique
The imaging depth of PAT is limited by the light attenuation by tissues. Currently, the maximum possible imaging depth using PAT is 8.4 cm. Newer illumination techniques may help overcome this limitation.
The imaging speed of PAT is limited by the rate of pulse repetition of lasers. Scientists are counting on developments in laser technology to help improve PAT imaging speed.
Quantitative analysis in PAT is relatively difficult because local fluence distribution measurement is complicated. Advanced algorithms may be a solution for this problem.
Currently, not many commercially available PAT systems in the market are capable of 3D imaging.
Using photoacoustic tomography to look beneath the surface Play
References
http://rsfs.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/1/4/602 http://oilab.seas.wustl.edu/epub/2006MXu-PA-Review.pdf http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/v13/n8/abs/nmeth.3925.html https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4311576/
Further Reading