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Fang J, Yang Q, Maas RGC, Buono M, Meijlink B, Lotgerink Bruinenberg D, Benavente ED, Mokry M, van Mil A, Qian L, Goumans MJ, Schiffelers R, Lei Z, Sluijter JPG. Vitamin C facilitates direct cardiac reprogramming by inhibiting reactive oxygen species. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:19. [PMID: 38229180 PMCID: PMC10792814 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03615-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND After myocardial infarction, the lost myocardium is replaced by fibrotic tissue, eventually progressively leading to myocardial dysfunction. Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes via the forced overexpression of cardiac transcription factors Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT) offers a promising strategy for cardiac repair. The limited reprogramming efficiency of this approach, however, remains a significant challenge. METHODS We screened seven factors capable of improving direct cardiac reprogramming of both mice and human fibroblasts by evaluating small molecules known to be involved in cardiomyocyte differentiation or promoting human-induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming. RESULTS We found that vitamin C (VitC) significantly increased cardiac reprogramming efficiency when added to GMT-overexpressing fibroblasts from human and mice in 2D and 3D model. We observed a significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in human and mice fibroblasts upon Doxy induction, and ROS generation was subsequently reduced upon VitC treatment, associated with increased reprogramming efficiency. However, upon treatment with dehydroascorbic acid, a structural analog of VitC but lacking antioxidant properties, no difference in reprogramming efficiency was observed, suggesting that the effect of VitC in enhancing cardiac reprogramming is partly dependent of its antioxidant properties. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that VitC supplementation significantly enhances the efficiency of cardiac reprogramming, partially by suppressing ROS production in the presence of GMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juntao Fang
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Circulatory Health Laboratory, UMC Utrecht, Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Qiangbing Yang
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- CDL Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Renée G C Maas
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Circulatory Health Laboratory, UMC Utrecht, Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michele Buono
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Meijlink
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dyonne Lotgerink Bruinenberg
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ernest Diez Benavente
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michal Mokry
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- CDL Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Alain van Mil
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Circulatory Health Laboratory, UMC Utrecht, Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Li Qian
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Marie-José Goumans
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Zhiyong Lei
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- CDL Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Circulatory Health Laboratory, UMC Utrecht, Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Joost P G Sluijter
- Experimental Cardiology laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Circulatory Health Laboratory, UMC Utrecht, Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Beekers I, Langeveld SAG, Meijlink B, van der Steen AFW, de Jong N, Verweij MD, Kooiman K. Internalization of targeted microbubbles by endothelial cells and drug delivery by pores and tunnels. J Control Release 2022; 347:460-475. [PMID: 35545132 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Ultrasound insonification of microbubbles can locally enhance drug delivery by increasing the cell membrane permeability. To aid development of a safe and effective therapeutic microbubble, more insight into the microbubble-cell interaction is needed. In this in vitro study we aimed to investigate the initial 3D morphology of the endothelial cell membrane adjacent to individual microbubbles (n = 301), determine whether this morphology was affected upon binding and by the type of ligand on the microbubble, and study its influence on microbubble oscillation and the drug delivery outcome. High-resolution 3D confocal microscopy revealed that targeted microbubbles were internalized by endothelial cells, while this was not the case for non-targeted or IgG1-κ control microbubbles. The extent of internalization was ligand-dependent, since αvβ3-targeted microbubbles were significantly more internalized than CD31-targeted microbubbles. Ultra-high-speed imaging (~17 Mfps) in combination with high-resolution confocal microscopy (n = 246) showed that microbubble internalization resulted in a damped microbubble oscillation upon ultrasound insonification (2 MHz, 200 kPa peak negative pressure, 10 cycles). Despite damped oscillation, the cell's susceptibility to sonoporation (as indicated by PI uptake) was increased for internalized microbubbles. Monitoring cell membrane integrity (n = 230) showed the formation of either a pore, for intracellular delivery, or a tunnel (i.e. transcellular perforation), for transcellular delivery. Internalized microbubbles caused fewer transcellular perforations and smaller pore areas than non-internalized microbubbles. In conclusion, studying microbubble-mediated drug delivery using a state-of-the-art imaging system revealed receptor-mediated microbubble internalization and its effect on microbubble oscillation and resulting membrane perforation by pores and tunnels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Beekers
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Office Ee2302, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Health, ORTEC B.V., Houtsingel 5, 2719 EA Zoetermeer, the Netherlands.
| | - Simone A G Langeveld
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Office Ee2302, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bram Meijlink
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Office Ee2302, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Antonius F W van der Steen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Office Ee2302, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nico de Jong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Office Ee2302, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Medical Imaging, Department of Imaging Physics, Delft University of Technology, Building 22, Room D218, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Martin D Verweij
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Office Ee2302, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Medical Imaging, Department of Imaging Physics, Delft University of Technology, Building 22, Room D218, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Klazina Kooiman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Office Ee2302, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Langeveld SAG, Meijlink B, Beekers I, Olthof M, van der Steen AFW, de Jong N, Kooiman K. Theranostic Microbubbles with Homogeneous Ligand Distribution for Higher Binding Efficacy. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14020311. [PMID: 35214044 PMCID: PMC8878664 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Phospholipid-coated targeted microbubbles are used for ultrasound molecular imaging and locally enhanced drug delivery, with the binding efficacy being an important trait. The use of organic solvent in microbubble production makes the difference between a heterogeneous or homogeneous ligand distribution. This study demonstrates the effect of ligand distribution on the binding efficacy of phospholipid-coated ανβ3-targeted microbubbles in vitro using a monolayer of human umbilical-vein endothelial cells and in vivo using chicken embryos. Microbubbles with a homogeneous ligand distribution had a higher binding efficacy than those with a heterogeneous ligand distribution both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, 1.55× more microbubbles with a homogeneous ligand distribution bound under static conditions, while this was 1.49× more under flow with 1.25 dyn/cm2, 1.56× more under flow with 2.22 dyn/cm2, and 1.25× more in vivo. The in vitro dissociation rate of bound microbubbles with homogeneous ligand distribution was lower at low shear stresses (1–5 dyn/cm2). The internalized depth of bound microbubbles was influenced by microbubble size, not by ligand distribution. In conclusion, for optimal binding the use of organic solvent in targeted microbubble production is preferable over directly dispersing phospholipids in aqueous medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone A. G. Langeveld
- Thorax Center, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (B.M.); (I.B.); (M.O.); (A.F.W.v.d.S.); (N.d.J.); (K.K.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Bram Meijlink
- Thorax Center, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (B.M.); (I.B.); (M.O.); (A.F.W.v.d.S.); (N.d.J.); (K.K.)
| | - Inés Beekers
- Thorax Center, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (B.M.); (I.B.); (M.O.); (A.F.W.v.d.S.); (N.d.J.); (K.K.)
- Department of Health, ORTEC B.V., 2719 EA Zoetermeer, The Netherlands
| | - Mark Olthof
- Thorax Center, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (B.M.); (I.B.); (M.O.); (A.F.W.v.d.S.); (N.d.J.); (K.K.)
| | - Antonius F. W. van der Steen
- Thorax Center, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (B.M.); (I.B.); (M.O.); (A.F.W.v.d.S.); (N.d.J.); (K.K.)
| | - Nico de Jong
- Thorax Center, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (B.M.); (I.B.); (M.O.); (A.F.W.v.d.S.); (N.d.J.); (K.K.)
- Imaging Physics, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Klazina Kooiman
- Thorax Center, Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (B.M.); (I.B.); (M.O.); (A.F.W.v.d.S.); (N.d.J.); (K.K.)
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Wei L, Wahyulaksana G, Meijlink B, Ramalli A, Noothout E, Verweij MD, Boni E, Kooiman K, van der Steen AFW, Tortoli P, de Jong N, Vos HJ. High Frame Rate Volumetric Imaging of Microbubbles Using a Sparse Array and Spatial Coherence Beamforming. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 2021; 68:3069-3081. [PMID: 34086570 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2021.3086597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Volumetric ultrasound imaging of blood flow with microbubbles enables a more complete visualization of the microvasculature. Sparse arrays are ideal candidates to perform volumetric imaging at reduced manufacturing complexity and cable count. However, due to the small number of transducer elements, sparse arrays often come with high clutter levels, especially when wide beams are transmitted to increase the frame rate. In this study, we demonstrate with a prototype sparse array probe and a diverging wave transmission strategy, that a uniform transmission field can be achieved. With the implementation of a spatial coherence beamformer, the background clutter signal can be effectively suppressed, leading to a signal to background ratio improvement of 25 dB. With this approach, we demonstrate the volumetric visualization of single microbubbles in a tissue-mimicking phantom as well as vasculature mapping in a live chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane.
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Dries E, Bardi I, Nunez-Toldra R, Meijlink B, Terracciano CM. CaMKII inhibition reduces arrhythmogenic Ca2+ events in subendocardial cryoinjured rat living myocardial slices. J Gen Physiol 2021; 153:212078. [PMID: 33956073 PMCID: PMC8105719 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202012737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous Ca2+ release (SCR) can cause triggered activity and initiate arrhythmias. Intrinsic transmural heterogeneities in Ca2+ handling and their propensity to disease remodeling may differentially modulate SCR throughout the left ventricular (LV) wall and cause transmural differences in arrhythmia susceptibility. Here, we aimed to dissect the effect of cardiac injury on SCR in different regions in the intact LV myocardium using cryoinjury on rat living myocardial slices (LMS). We studied SCR under proarrhythmic conditions using a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator and high-resolution imaging in LMS from the subendocardium (ENDO) and subepicardium (EPI). Cryoinjury caused structural remodeling, with loss in T-tubule density and an increased time of Ca2+ transients to peak after injury. In ENDO LMS, the Ca2+ transient amplitude and decay phase were reduced, while these were not affected in EPI LMS after cryoinjury. The frequency of spontaneous whole-slice contractions increased in ENDO LMS without affecting EPI LMS after injury. Cryoinjury caused an increase in foci that generates SCR in both ENDO and EPI LMS. In ENDO LMS, SCRs were more closely distributed and had reduced latencies after cryoinjury, whereas this was not affected in EPI LMS. Inhibition of CaMKII reduced the number, distribution, and latencies of SCR, as well as whole-slice contractions in ENDO LMS, but not in EPI LMS after cryoinjury. Furthermore, CaMKII inhibition did not affect the excitation–contraction coupling in cryoinjured ENDO or EPI LMS. In conclusion, we demonstrate increased arrhythmogenic susceptibility in the injured ENDO. Our findings show involvement of CaMKII and highlight the need for region-specific targeting in cardiac therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eef Dries
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Lab of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ifigeneia Bardi
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Bram Meijlink
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Pakdaman Zangabad R, Iskander-Rizk S, van der Meulen P, Meijlink B, Kooiman K, Wang T, van der Steen AFW, van Soest G. Photoacoustic flow velocity imaging based on complex field decorrelation. Photoacoustics 2021; 22:100256. [PMID: 33868919 PMCID: PMC8040274 DOI: 10.1016/j.pacs.2021.100256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Photoacoustic (PA) imaging can be used to monitor flowing blood inside the microvascular and capillary bed. Ultrasound speckle decorrelation based velocimetry imaging was previously shown to accurately estimate blood flow velocity in mouse brain (micro-)vasculature. Translating this method to photoacoustic imaging will allow simultaneous imaging of flow velocity and extracting functional parameters like blood oxygenation. In this study, we use a pulsed laser diode and a quantitative method based on normalized first order field autocorrelation function of PA field fluctuations to estimate flow velocities in an ink tube phantom and in the microvasculature of the chorioallantoic membrane of a chicken embryo. We demonstrate how the decorrelation time of signals acquired over frames are related to the flow speed and show that the PA flow analysis based on this approach is an angle independent flow velocity imaging method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Pakdaman Zangabad
- Biomedical Engineering, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sophinese Iskander-Rizk
- Biomedical Engineering, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pim van der Meulen
- Department of Microelectronics, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Meijlink
- Biomedical Engineering, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Klazina Kooiman
- Biomedical Engineering, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tianshi Wang
- Biomedical Engineering, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Antonius F W van der Steen
- Biomedical Engineering, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Imaging Science and Physics, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Gijs van Soest
- Biomedical Engineering, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Meijlink B, Skachkov I, van der Steen AFW, de Jong N, Kooiman K. The Preparation of Chicken Ex Ovo Embryos and Chorioallantoic Membrane Vessels as In Vivo Model for Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging and Microbubble-Mediated Drug Delivery Studies. J Vis Exp 2021. [PMID: 33645558 DOI: 10.3791/62076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The chicken embryo and the blood-vessel rich chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is a valuable in vivo model to investigate biomedical processes, new ultrasound pulsing schemes, or novel transducers for contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging and microbubble-mediated drug delivery. The reasons for this are the accessibility of the embryo and vessel network of the CAM as well as the low costs of the model. An important step to get access to the embryo and CAM vessels is to take the egg content out of the eggshell. In this protocol, three methods for taking the content out of the eggshell between day 5 and 8 of incubation are described thus allowing the embryos to develop inside the eggshell up to these days. The described methods only require simple tools and equipment and yield a higher survival success rate of 90% for 5-day, 75% for 6-day, 50% for 7-day, and 60% for 8-day old incubated eggs in comparison to ex ovo cultured embryos (~50%). The protocol also describes how to inject cavitation nuclei, such as microbubbles, into the CAM vascular system, how to separate the membrane containing the embryo and CAM from the rest of the egg content for optically transparent studies, and how to use the chicken embryo and CAM in a variety of short-term ultrasound experiments. The in vivo chicken embryo and CAM model is extremely relevant to investigate novel imaging protocols, ultrasound contrast agents, and ultrasound pulsing schemes for contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging, and to unravel the mechanisms of ultrasound-mediated drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bram Meijlink
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam;
| | - Ilya Skachkov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam
| | - Antonius F W van der Steen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam; Laboratory of Acoustical Wavefield Imaging, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology
| | - Nico de Jong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam; Laboratory of Acoustical Wavefield Imaging, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology
| | - Klazina Kooiman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam;
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