In vivo applications of raster-scan optoacoustic angiography

Abstract

Development of a number of diseases is accompanied by changes in the blood vessels’ structure and the investigation of tissue vascular pattern remains one of the most essential problems in experimental and clinical medicine. Hybrid methods of optoacoustic (OA) imaging enable label-free optical-contrast angiography at optical penetration depths with ultrasonic resolution. We used OA to study vascular network of experimental tumor during growth and after treatment as well as to study the dynamics of blood content of human skin during functional tests. Optoacoustic angiography was performed using raster-scan system in reflection mode with 532 nm laser source and wideband PVDF detector. The sensitivity of the system allowed to visualize 50 µm blood vessels at up to 2.1 mm depth. Minimally detected diameter of blood vessel located at the surface of a soft tissue was 15 µm. Imaging of colon tumor models CT26 and HT-29 revealed peculiarities of vascular system development. Irradiation-induced increase of small tumor vessels segments number and parallel decrease in the number of large hemoglobin-containing structures were demonstrated. The fraction of blood-filled vessels of the human skin was assessed during cuff occlusion and temporarily filling with blood became clearly visible on OA images. To study the effects of local mechanical compression on human skin vasculature we varied external pressure and revealed the gradual drop in OA signal from blood vessels. We demonstrated the possibilities of raster-scan angiography for in vivo analysis of vessels structure, for monitoring of neoangiogenesis and for dynamical investigation of blood content under external actions.