Cardiovascular Research Center, Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Methods Mol Biol. 2022;2419:853-872. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1924-7_52.
Optical molecular imaging using near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) light is an emerging high-resolution imaging approach to image a wide range of molecular and cellular species in vivo. Imaging using NIR wavelengths (650-900 nm) enables deeper photon penetration into tissue and reduced tissue autofluorescence, resulting in higher sensitivity to detect exogenously administered NIR fluorophores (injectable molecular imaging agents). Greater imaging depth of several centimeters is further achievable in the NIR window as blood absorption is as an order of magnitude lower than in the visible range. Furthermore, as optical imaging is routinely performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory (e.g., optical coherence tomography), intravascular NIRF offers a promising translational approach for clinical coronary and peripheral arterial imaging. To this point, the first human intravascular NIRF imaging study recently demonstrated the ability to detect NIR autofluorescence in patients with coronary atherosclerosis. This study provides a foundation for targeted intravascular NIRF molecular imaging studies in coronary patients. In this chapter, we detail system engineering, imaging agents and translational applications of intravascular NIRF molecular imaging.
使用近红外荧光（NIRF）光的光学分子成像是一种新兴的高分辨率成像方法，可用于在体内对广泛的分子和细胞种类进行成像。使用 NIR 波长（650-900nm）进行成像可使光子更深地穿透组织并减少组织自发荧光，从而提高检测外源给予的 NIR 荧光团（可注射的分子成像剂）的灵敏度。在 NIR 窗口中，进一步可以实现几厘米的更大成像深度，因为血液吸收的量级低于可见范围。此外，由于光学成像是在心脏导管插入实验室中常规进行的（例如，光学相干断层扫描），因此血管内 NIRF 为临床冠状动脉和外周动脉成像提供了有前途的转化方法。在这一点上，最近的第一项人体血管内 NIRF 成像研究证明了在冠状动脉粥样硬化患者中检测 NIR 自发荧光的能力。该研究为冠状动脉患者的靶向血管内 NIRF 分子成像研究奠定了基础。在本章中，我们详细介绍了血管内 NIRF 分子成像的系统工程、成像剂和转化应用。
