Shortwave-infrared meso-patterned imaging enables label-free mapping of tissue water and lipid content.

Abstract

Water and lipids are key participants in many biological processes, but there are few non-invasive methods that provide quantification of these components in vivo, and none that can isolate and quantify lipids in the blood. Here we develop a new imaging modality termed shortwave infrared meso-patterned imaging (SWIR-MPI) to provide label-free, non-contact, spatial mapping of water and lipid concentrations in tissue. The method utilizes patterned hyperspectral illumination to target chromophore absorption bands in the 900-1,300 nm wavelength range. We use SWIR-MPI to monitor clinically important physiological processes including edema, inflammation, and tumor lipid heterogeneity in preclinical models. We also show that SWIR-MPI can spatially map blood-lipids in humans, representing an example of non-invasive and contact-free measurements of in vivo blood lipids. Together, these results highlight the potential of SWIR-MPI to enable new capabilities in fundamental studies and clinical monitoring of major conditions including obesity, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

• Authors: Yanyu Zhao, Anahita Pilvar, Anup Tank, Hannah Peterson, John Jiang, Jon C Aster, John Paul Dumas, Mark C Pierce, Darren Roblyer
• Journal: Nature communications (Nat Commun) Vol. 11 Issue 1 Pg. 5355 (10 23 2020) ISSN: 2041-1723 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 33097705 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Lipids
• Water

Topics

• Adipose Tissue, Brown (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Adult
• Animals
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Cardiovascular Diseases (diagnostic imaging)
• Edema (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Female
• Heterografts
• Humans
• Inflammation (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Infrared Rays
• Lipids (blood)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Obesity (diagnostic imaging)
• Optical Imaging (instrumentation, methods)
• Prostatic Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Radio Waves
• Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared (instrumentation, methods)
• Water (analysis)