Early monitoring of cerebral hypoperfusion in rats by laser speckle imaging and functional photoacoustic microscopy

PET/SPECT/spectral-CT/CBCT imaging in a small-animal radiation therapy platform: A Monte Carlo study-Part I: Quad-modal imaging

BACKGROUND

In spite of the tremendous potential of game-changing biological image- and/or biologically guided radiation therapy (RT) and adaptive radiation therapy for cancer treatment, existing limited strategies for integrating molecular imaging and/or biological information with RT have impeded the translation of preclinical research findings to clinical applications. Additionally, there is an urgent need for a highly integrated small-animal radiation therapy (SART) platform that can seamlessly combine therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities to comprehensively enhance RT for cancer treatment.

PURPOSE

We investigated a highly integrated quad-modal on-board imaging configuration combining positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), photon-counting spectral CT, and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in a SART platform using a Monte Carlo model as a proof-of-concept.

METHODS

The quad-modal on-board imaging configuration of the SART platform was designed and evaluated by using the GATE Monte Carlo code. A partial-ring on-board PET imaging subsystem, utilizing advanced semiconductor thallium bromide detector technology, was designed to achieve high sensitivity and spatial resolution. On-board SPECT, photon-counting spectral-CT, and CBCT imaging were performed using a single cadmium zinc telluride flat detector panel. The absolute peak sensitivity and scatter fraction of the PET subsystem were estimated by using simulated phantoms described in the NEMA NU-4 standard. The spatial resolution of the PET image of the platform was evaluated by imaging a simulated micro-Derenzo hot-rod phantom. To evaluate the quantitative imaging capability of the system's spectral CT, the Bayesian eigentissue decomposition (ETD) method was utilized to quantitatively decompose the virtual noncontrast (VNC) electron densities and iodine contrast agent fractions in the Kidney1 inserts mixed with the iodine contrast agent within the simulated phantoms. The performance of the proposed quad-model imaging in the platform was validated by imaging a simulated phantom with multiple imaging probes, including an iodine contrast agent and radioisotopes of 18F and 99mTc.

RESULTS

The PET subsystem demonstrated an absolute peak sensitivity of 18.5% at the scanner center, with an energy window of 175-560 KeV, and a scatter fraction of only 3.5% for the mouse phantom, with a default energy window of 480-540 KeV. The spatial resolution of PET on-board imaging exceeded 1.2 mm. All imaging probes were identified clearly within the phantom. The PET and SPECT images agreed well with the actual spatial distributions of the tracers within the phantom. Average relative errors on electron density and iodine contrast agent fraction in the Kidney1 inserts were less than 3%. High-quality PET images, SPECT images, spectral-CT images (including iodine contrast agent fraction images and VNC electron density images), and CBCT images of the simulated phantom demonstrated the comprehensive multimodal imaging capability of the system.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed quad-modal imaging configuration in a SART platform. The design incorporates anatomical, molecular, and functional information about tumors, thereby facilitating successful translation of preclinical studies into clinical practices.

Improving accuracy of cerebral blood flow measurements in laser speckle flowmetry

Laser speckle flowmetry (LSF) can measure moving red blood cells in real time as changes in tissue blood flow; however, LSF values may not be sufficiently reproducible due to body movements and other factors. Therefore, it is difficult to compare absolute values of LSF directly. This study aimed to verify the influence of head fixation on improving the measurement accuracy and enabling the comparison of LSF values semi-quantitatively using an external standard. We first examined the effects of head fixation on LSF values obtained during cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurement through a bone window over the cerebrum in Sprague-Dawley rats. The LSF values in the bone window were semi-quantitated using the ratio of the external standard LSF values measured simultaneously in the same field of view in a unilateral common carotid artery ligation model to evaluate CBF. Head fixation halved the variability of LSF values when compared with measurements made without head fixation. The LSF laser focus position did not affect the LSF values provided the focus was positioned within the exposed cranium. Semi-quantitation of LSF values made it possible to monitor changes in CBF in each respective bone window over time in a model of unilateral carotid ligation. In conclusion, the stabilizing effect of head fixation on LSF values was clarified, and we observed that to improve measurement accuracy, the head should be immobilized. Semi-quantitation of LSF values was first introduced by using an external standard and appears to be useful in monitoring the CBF of each location separately.

Skull Optical Clearing Solution for Enhancing Ultrasonic and Photoacoustic Imaging

The performance of photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) degrades due to the turbidity of the skull that introduces attenuation and distortion of both laser and stimulated ultrasound. In this manuscript, we demonstrated that a newly developed skull optical clearing solution (SOCS) could enhance not only the transmittance of light, but also that of ultrasound in the skull in vitro. Thus the photoacoustic signal was effectively elevated, and the relative strength of the artifacts induced by the skull could be suppressed. Furthermore in vivo studies demonstrated that SOCS could drastically enhance the performance of photoacoustic microscopy for cerebral microvasculature imaging.

Intraoperative cerebral blood flow imaging of rodents

Intraoperative monitoring of cerebral blood flow (CBF) is of interest to neuroscience researchers, which offers the assessment of hemodynamic responses throughout the process of neurosurgery and provides an early biomarker for surgical guidance. However, intraoperative CBF imaging has been challenging due to animal's motion and position change during the surgery. In this paper, we presented a design of an operation bench integrated with laser speckle contrast imager which enables monitoring of the CBF intraoperatively. With a specially designed stereotaxic frame and imager, we were able to monitor the CBF changes in both hemispheres during the rodent surgery. The rotatable design of the operation plate and implementation of online image registration allow the technician to move the animal without disturbing the CBF imaging during surgery. The performance of the system was tested by middle cerebral artery occlusion model of rats.

Reflection-mode optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy based on a reflective objective

We developed a new reflection-mode optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR-PAM) based on the cooperation of a reflective objective and an ultrasonic transducer. The reflective objective is used to produce nearly diffraction-limited optical focusing, and the excited ultrasound waves are then directly detected by an ultrasonic transducer that was placed in the central cone of the objective. This new design avoids the coupling between optical focusing and ultrasound transmission in the reflection mode. Moreover, the proposed system is able to provide lateral resolution of 1.2 μm at 580 nm, penetration depth of 0.9 mm in biological tissues, and a work distance of 6.0 mm. We present in vivo imaging of the microvasculature in mouse ears and in vitro imaging of red blood cells (RBCs), which demonstrate the capability of the system to study microcirculation.

Biomedical photoacoustics in China

During the last decade, along with its explosive growth globally, biomedical photoacoustics has become a rapidly growing research field in China as well. In particular, photoacoustic tomography (PAT), capable of imaging intact biological tissue in vivo at great depths, has generated intense interest among Chinese researchers. This review briefly summarizes the current status and recent progress of the research in PAT in China. The focus is on the technology development and biomedical applications of three representative embodiments of PAT: photoacoustic microscopy, photoacoustic computed tomography, and photoacoustic endoscopy. In addition, recent development and studies in other related areas are also reviewed shortly.