Abstract
Evolution from static to dynamic label-free thermal imaging has improved bulk tissue characterization, but fails to capture subtle thermal properties in heterogeneous systems. Here, we report a label-free, high speed, and high-resolution platform technology, focal dynamic thermal imaging (FDTI), for delineating material patterns and tissue heterogeneity. Stimulation of focal regions of thermally responsive systems with a narrow beam, low power, and low cost 405 nm laser perturbs the thermal equilibrium. Capturing the dynamic response of 3D printed phantoms, ex vivo biological tissue, and in vivo mouse and rat models of cancer with a thermal camera reveals material heterogeneity and delineates diseased from healthy tissue. The intuitive and non-contact FDTI method allows for rapid interrogation of suspicious lesions and longitudinal changes in tissue heterogeneity with high-resolution and large field of view. Portable FDTI holds promise as a clinical tool for capturing subtle differences in heterogeneity between malignant, benign, and inflamed tissue.
Highlights
Evolution from static to dynamic label-free thermal imaging has improved bulk tissue characterization, but fails to capture subtle thermal properties in heterogeneous systems
We report the development of a new label-free dynamic photothermal imaging technique, focal dynamic thermal imaging (FDTI), which overcomes the spatial limitations of current DTI strategies while using simple hardware and analysis methods compared to super resolution DTI
A 3D model of the FDTI phenomenon was developed in COMSOL to demonstrate the feasibility of using this technique to measure unique signals from different materials and tissue types
Summary
Evolution from static to dynamic label-free thermal imaging has improved bulk tissue characterization, but fails to capture subtle thermal properties in heterogeneous systems. Despite its advantages of being a handheld, real-time, and non-contact measurement technique, the poor specificity of thermal imaging has prevented widespread adoption in the clinic[4] To overcome this limitation, techniques that probe thermal tissue properties, rather than equilibrium temperature, have been developed. Label-free DTI fails to fully capture high-resolution thermal tissue heterogeneity, which can highlight subtle differences for distinguishing malignant, benign, or inflamed tissue[9,10] This resolution limit is due to how a thermal stimulus is applied. While tissue-specific optical properties define the degree and distribution of light absorption and subsequent heat generation, tissue properties such as thermal conductivity, specific heat, density, perfusion, metabolic rate, and the baseline temperature dictate heat propagation (Fig. 1) Assessment of this new technique using custom 3D printed thermal resolution targets showed higher spatial resolution and contrast than conventional DTI. The label-free, non-contact, intuitive, and portable FDTI system provides high-resolution and high contrast images in real-time for use in diverse applications, including materials characterization and disease diagnosis
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