Photoacoustic Imaging Application In Cancer Early Detection And Treatment Monitoring

Photoacoustic imaging is a novel laser-based non-invasive imaging modality. It combinesadvantages of both ultrasound and optical imaging, can provide high ultrasonic resolution andhigh optical contrast tissue images. As the next generation successful imaging techniques inbiomedical applications, photoacoustic imaging can provide an effective approach of tissuestructure and functional images to study the architectures, physiological and pathologicalproperties and metabolisms of biological tissues.This thesis is primarily focused on photoacoustic imaging of cancer early detection andtreatment monitoring. An overview of the rapidly expanding field of photoacoustic imaging forbiomedical applications and a brief introduction of photoacoustic imaging mechanism, imagingsystems and the image reconstruction algorithm are given. In this study, this technique provides ahigh contrast and high resolution (about 60um) photoacoustic imaging of blood vessels of achicken embryo based on MSIRT. And we developed a unique photoacoustic imaging system todetect tumors neovascularization associated with angiogenesis in a rat animal model. We alsodeveloped a unique photoacoustic imaging system to monitor the vascular damage during PDTtreatment using the CAM tumor model in the first time to our knowledge. This method could bepotentially used to guide PDT and other phototherapies using vascular changes during treatment tooptimize treatment protocols, by choosing appropriate types and doses of photosensitizers, anddoses of light.Potentially development of photoacoustic imaging to employing in functional and molecularimaging, photoacoustic for real-time three-dimensional imaging and blood vessel in clinicaldiagnosis is discussed. Photoacoustic imaging has its unique merits and can become a usefulimaging modality for complementary of conventional imaging technique. Especially,photoacoustic imaging can be further developed by using the optical contrast agents whichmodified with tumor-targeting antibodies to realize cancer early detection and treatmentmonitoring...