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Nguyen CD, Chen Y, Kaplan DL, Mallidi S. Multi-spectral photoacoustic imaging combined with acoustic radiation force impulse imaging for applications in tissue engineering. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.23.590806. [PMID: 38712117 PMCID: PMC11071356 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.23.590806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Tissue engineering is a dynamic field focusing on the creation of advanced scaffolds for tissue and organ regeneration. These scaffolds are customized to their specific applications and are often designed to be complex, large structures to mimic tissues and organs. This study addresses the critical challenge of effectively characterizing these thick, optically opaque scaffolds that traditional imaging methods fail to fully image due to their optical limitations. We introduce a novel multi-modal imaging approach combining ultrasound, photoacoustic, and acoustic radiation force impulse imaging. This combination leverages its acoustic-based detection to overcome the limitations posed by optical imaging techniques. Ultrasound imaging is employed to monitor the scaffold structure, photoacoustic imaging is employed to monitor cell proliferation, and acoustic radiation force impulse imaging is employed to evaluate the homogeneity of scaffold stiffness. We applied this integrated imaging system to analyze melanoma cell growth within silk fibroin protein scaffolds with varying pore sizes and therefore stiffness over different cell incubation periods. Among various materials, silk fibroin was chosen for its unique combination of features including biocompatibility, tunable mechanical properties, and structural porosity which supports extensive cell proliferation. The results provide a detailed mesoscale view of the scaffolds' internal structure, including cell penetration depth and biomechanical properties. Our findings demonstrate that the developed multimodal imaging technique offers comprehensive insights into the physical and biological dynamics of tissue-engineered scaffolds. As the field of tissue engineering continues to advance, the importance of non-ionizing and non-invasive imaging systems becomes increasingly evident, and by facilitating a deeper understanding and better characterization of scaffold architectures, such imaging systems are pivotal in driving the success of future tissue-engineering solutions.
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Kim M, Yoon K, Lee S, Shin MS, Kim KG. Development of an Artificial Soft Solid Gel Using Gelatin Material for High-Quality Ultrasound Diagnosis. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:335. [PMID: 38337851 PMCID: PMC10855452 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14030335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
For ultrasound diagnosis, a gel is applied to the skin. Ultrasound gel serves to block air exposure and match impedance between the skin and the probe, enhancing imaging efficiency. However, if use of the ultrasound gel exceeds a certain period of time, it may dry out and be exposed to air, causing impedance mismatch and reducing imaging resolution. In such cases, the use of a soft, solid gel proves advantageous, as it can be employed for an extended period without succumbing to the drying phenomenon and can be reused after disinfection. Its soft consistency ensures excellent skin adhesion. Our soft solid gel demonstrated approximately 1.2 times better performance than water, silicone, and traditional ultrasound gels. When comparing the dimensions of grayscale, dead zone, vertical, and horizontal regions, the measurements for the traditional ultrasound gel were 93.79 mm, 45.32 mm, 103.13 mm, 83.86 mm, and 83.86 mm, respectively. In contrast, the proposed soft solid gel exhibited dimensions of 105.64 mm, 34.48 mm, 141.1 mm, and 102.8 mm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minchan Kim
- Medical Devices R&D Center, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, 21, 774 Beon-gil, Namdong-daero, Namdong-gu, Incheon 21565, Republic of Korea; (M.K.); (K.Y.); (S.L.)
| | - Kicheol Yoon
- Medical Devices R&D Center, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, 21, 774 Beon-gil, Namdong-daero, Namdong-gu, Incheon 21565, Republic of Korea; (M.K.); (K.Y.); (S.L.)
- Premedicine Course, College of Medicine, Gachon University, 38-13, 3 Beon-gil, Dokjom-ro 3, Namdong-gu, Incheon 21565, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangyun Lee
- Medical Devices R&D Center, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, 21, 774 Beon-gil, Namdong-daero, Namdong-gu, Incheon 21565, Republic of Korea; (M.K.); (K.Y.); (S.L.)
- Department of Health and Safety Convergence Sciences & Health and Environmental Convergence Sciences, Korea University, 145, Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Seung Shin
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, 21 Namdong-daero 774 Beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon 21565, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang Gi Kim
- Medical Devices R&D Center, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, 21, 774 Beon-gil, Namdong-daero, Namdong-gu, Incheon 21565, Republic of Korea; (M.K.); (K.Y.); (S.L.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health Science, Gachon University, 191 Hambak-moero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21936, Republic of Korea
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Gachon Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology (GAIHST), Gachon University, 38-13, 3 Beon-gil, Dokjom-ro, Namdong-gu, Incheon 21565, Republic of Korea
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Grasso V, Raymond JL, Willumeit-Römer R, Joseph J, Jose J. Development of a morphologically realistic mouse phantom for pre-clinical photoacoustic imaging. Med Phys 2023; 50:5757-5771. [PMID: 37535898 DOI: 10.1002/mp.16651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Characterizations based on anatomically realistic phantoms are highly effective to perform accurate technical validation of imaging systems. Specifically for photoacoustic imaging (PAI), although a variety of phantom models with simplified geometries are reported, an unmet need still exists to establish morphologically realistic heterogeneous pre-clinical phantoms. So the development of a mouse-mimicking phantom can reduce the use of animals for the validation and standardization studies of pre-clinical PAI systems and thus eventually translate the PAI technology to clinical research. PURPOSE Here we designed, developed, and fabricated a stable phantom that mimics the detailed morphology of a mouse, to be used as a realistic tool for PAI. METHODS The mouse phantom, has been designed by using a combination of image modeling and 3D-printing techniques. As a tissue-mimicking material, we have used copolymer-in-oil-based material that was recently proposed by the International Photoacoustic Standardization Consortium (IPASC). In particular, the anatomically realistic phantom has been modeled by using the real atlas of a mouse as a reference. The mouse phantom includes a 3D-printed skeleton and the main abdominal organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys obtained by using doped copolymer-in-oil material with 3D-printed molds. In addition, the acoustic and optical properties of the tissue-mimicking material and the long-term stability have been broadly characterized. RESULTS Furthermore, our studies showed that the phantom is durable and stable for more than 200 days, under normal storage and repeated use. Fabrication protocol is easy to reproduce. As a result, the proposed morphologically realistic mouse phantom offers durability, material compatibility, and an unprecedented realistic resemblance to the actual rodents' anatomy in PAI. CONCLUSION This durable morphologically realistic mouse phantom would minimize the animal experiments in compliance with the 3R principle of Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. To our knowledge, this is the first time an anatomically realistic heterogeneous mouse phantom has been proposed for PAI in pre-clinical animal imaging and tested its durability over 200 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Grasso
- FUJIFILM VisualSonics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Institute for Materials Science, Faculty of Engineering, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jason L Raymond
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Regine Willumeit-Römer
- Institute for Materials Science, Faculty of Engineering, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- Institute of Materials Research, Division Metallic Biomaterials, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon GmbH, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - James Joseph
- School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Centre for Medical Engineering and Technology, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Jithin Jose
- FUJIFILM VisualSonics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Optimizing Axial and Peripheral Substitutions in Si-Centered Naphthalocyanine Dyes for Enhancing Aqueous Solubility and Photoacoustic Signal Intensity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032241. [PMID: 36768560 PMCID: PMC9916426 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Photoacoustic imaging using external contrast agents is emerging as a powerful modality for real-time molecular imaging of deep-seated tumors. There are several chromophores, such as indocyanine green and IRDye800, that can potentially be used for photoacoustic imaging; however, their use is limited due to several drawbacks, particularly photostability. There is, therefore, an urgent need to design agents to enhance contrast in photoacoustic imaging. Naphthalocyanine dyes have been demonstrated for their use as photoacoustic contrast agents; however, their low solubility in aqueous solvents and high aggregation propensity limit their application. In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of silicon-centered naphthalocyanine dyes with high aqueous solubility and near infra-red (NIR) absorption in the range of 850-920 nm which make them ideal candidates for photoacoustic imaging. A series of Silicon-centered naphthalocyanine dyes were developed with varying axial and peripheral substitutions, all in an attempt to enhance their aqueous solubility and improve photophysical properties. We demonstrate that axial incorporation of charged ammonium mesylate group enhances water solubility. Moreover, the incorporation of peripheral 2-methoxyethoxy groups at the α-position modulates the electronic properties by altering the π-electron delocalization and enhancing photoacoustic signal amplitude. In addition, all the dyes were synthesized to incorporate an N-hydroxysuccinimidyl group to enable further bioconjugation. In summary, we report the synthesis of water-soluble silicon-centered naphthalocyanine dyes with a high photoacoustic signal amplitude that can potentially be used as contrast agents for molecular photoacoustic imaging.
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