In vivo ultrasound-switchable fluorescence imaging

The conventional fluorescence imaging has limited spatial resolution in centimeter-deep tissue because of the tissue’s high scattering property. Ultrasound-switchable fluorescence (USF) imaging, a new imaging technique, was recently proposed to realize high-resolution fluorescence imaging in centimeter-deep tissue. However, in vivo USF imaging has not been achieved so far because of the lack of stable near-infrared contrast agents in a biological environment and the lack of data about their biodistributions. In this study, for the first time, we achieved in vivo USF imaging successfully in mice with high resolution. USF imaging in porcine heart tissue and mouse breast tumor via local injections were studied and demonstrated. In vivo and ex vivo USF imaging of the mouse spleen via intravenous injections was also successfully achieved. The results showed that the USF contrast agent adopted in this study was very stable in a biological environment, and it was mainly accumulated into the spleen of the mice. By comparing the results of CT imaging and the results of USF imaging, the accuracy of USF imaging was proved.