Photoacoustic Image-Guided Delivery of Plasmonic-Nanoparticle-Labeled Mesenchymal Stem Cells to the Spinal Cord

Liu

Journal of Biophotonics

et al. 2019

Needle placement is important for many clinical interventions, such as tissue biopsy, regional anesthesia and drug delivery. It is essential to visualize the spatial position of the needle and the target tissue during the interventions using appropriate imaging techniques. Based on the contrast of optical absorption, photoacoustic imaging is well suited for the guidance of interventional procedures. However, conventional photoacoustic imaging typically provides two‐dimensional (2D) slices of the region of interest and could only visualize the needle and the target when they are within the imaging plane of the probe at the same time. This requires great alignment skill and effort. To ease this problem, we developed a 3D interventional photoacoustic imaging technique by fast scanning a linear array ultrasound probe and stitching acquired image slices. in vivo sentinel lymph node biopsy experiment shows that the technique could precisely locate a needle and a sentinel lymph node in a tissue volume while a perfusion experiment demonstrates that the technique could visualize the 3D distribution of injected methylene blue dye underneath the skin at high temporal and spatial resolution. The proposed technique provides a practical way for photoacoustic image‐guided interventions.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three‐dimensional interventional photoacoustic imaging for biopsy needle guidance with a linear array transducer

Liu

Journal of Biophotonics

et al. 2019

Tissue Engineering Part B: Reviews

“…The acoustic stress relaxes by launching broadband US pressure waves (i.e., PA emission), which propagate to the outside of the tissue and are detected by a mechanically scanned US receiver or an array of US receivers to form PA images. 5,17,18 For effective PA signal 269 Oxygen saturation 270,271 Metabolic rate of oxygen 50 Perfusion 272 Vasculature and angiogenesis 118,123,273 Blood flow 274 Cell tracking and monitoring 149,155,153 Biomaterial characterization 275,276 Safe Real time imaging High imaging depth with reasonable spatial resolution Label free imaging of blood vessels Functional information Low background No structural information Requires exogenous contrast agents for cellular imaging CT, computed tomography; MFM, multi-photon fluorescence microscopy; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; OCT, optical coherence tomography; PAI, photoacoustic imaging; PET/SPECT, positron emission tomography/single photon emission computed tomography; US, ultrasound.…”

Section: Basic Image Formation Principles Of Paimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They report detecting cell number as low as 1000 cells with this imaging system. 155 In another study, human embryonic stem cell derived cardiomyocytes were delivered to the heart of the mouse for cardiac regenerative therapy. These cells were tagged with PA NPs that consist of semiconducting polymers, poly [2,6-…”

Section: Cell Tracking and Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photoacoustic Imaging in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Shrestha

DeLuna

Anastasio

et al. 2020

Several imaging modalities are available for investigation of the morphological, functional, and molecular features of engineered tissues in small animal models. While research in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) would benefit from a comprehensive longitudinal analysis of new strategies, researchers have not always applied the most advanced methods. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a rapidly emerging modality that has received significant attention due to its ability to exploit the strong endogenous contrast of optical methods with the high spatial resolution of ultrasound methods. Exogenous contrast agents can also be used in PAI for targeted imaging. Applications of PAI relevant to TERM include stem cell tracking, longitudinal monitoring of scaffolds in vivo, and evaluation of vascularization. In addition, the emerging capabilities of PAI applied to the detection and monitoring of cancer and other inflammatory diseases could be exploited by tissue engineers. This article provides an overview of the operating principles of PAI and its broad potential for application in TERM.

“…To address the need for intraoperative guidance, we initially proposed an ultrasound (US) and photoacoustic (PA) imaging approach to detect gold nanosphere (AuNS)-labeled stem cells in the spinal cord. 3 Although feasibility was validated in excised rodent spinal cords ex vivo, the AuNS-based approach does not allow for postoperative MRI guidance. Therefore, we developed an alternative imaging approach to detect stem cells in the spinal cord using a unique nanoconstruct, Prussian blue nanocubes (PBNCs).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous ex vivo studies using PA imaging in the spine demonstrate the capabilities of new imaging tools to guide surgery and therapies. 3,4,13,23,24 Current in vivo findings on intraoperative US/PA guidance are vital to supporting further development of the trimodal US/PA/MR imaging approach to monitor stem cell therapies in the spinal cord. Results may extend to other research and clinical spine-related applications in intra-and postoperative settings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vivo photoacoustic guidance of stem cell injection and delivery for regenerative spinal cord therapies

Kubelick

Emelianov

2020

Neurophoton.

Self Cite

Significance: Stem cell therapies are of interest for treating a variety of neurodegenerative diseases and injuries of the spinal cord. However, the lack of techniques for longitudinal monitoring of stem cell therapy progression is inhibiting clinical translation. Aim: The goal of this study is to demonstrate an intraoperative imaging approach to guide stem cell injection to the spinal cord in vivo. Results may ultimately support the development of an imaging tool that spans intra-or postoperative environments to guide therapy throughout treatment. Approach: Stem cells were labeled with Prussian blue nanocubes (PBNCs) to facilitate combined ultrasound and photoacoustic (US/PA) imaging to visualize stem cell injection and delivery to the spinal cord in vivo. US/PA results were confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histology. Results: Real-time intraoperative US/PA image-guided injection of PBNC-labeled stem cells and three-dimensional volumetric images of injection provided feedback necessary for successful delivery of therapeutics into the spinal cord. Postoperative MRI confirmed delivery of PBNClabeled stem cells. Conclusions: The nanoparticle-augmented US/PA approach successfully detected injection and delivery of stem cells into the spinal cord, confirmed by MRI. Our work demonstrated in vivo feasibility, which is a critical step toward the development of a US/PA/MRI platform to monitor regenerative spinal cord therapies.