Optoacoustic or photoacoustic imaging is a new, cutting-edge imaging technique which detects ultrasound waves following light absorption from specific molecules. This technique allows molecules with different spectral profile to be detected. For example, the different spectral properties of oxygenated haemoglobin and deoxygenated haemoglobin can be used for monitoring changes in soluble oxygen of tissue and organs, allowing quantification of vascular changes without a contrast agent. Advancements in the development of nanoparticles and infrared fluorescent reporters that are detectable by optoacoustics have also increased the possibilities of molecular imaging. Gold nanoparticle is one of the contrast agents that can be visualised with optoacoustics and microCT scan.
The Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT) inVision256-TF (iThera Medical) was acquired with the help of the Cancer Institute NSW equipment grant 2014. It is the only system capable of multispectral tomographic imaging of an entire mouse and will expand our ability for multimodal imaging.
Key facts:
· Laser wavelength 680-980 nm
· 256 detector elements
· Real-time image acquisition at imaging rate of 10 frames per second
· Spatial resolution 150 nm
· Lower limit quantification: ICG- 50nM, Gold Nanoparticles- 15fM
· Integrated CryoMOUSETM reference anatomy
