Abstract

Frontiers in optical Imaging in Translational Medicine

Jayakumar Perumal, Senior Scientist, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium

The growing demand for reliable and robust methodology in medical diagnostics calls for continuous advancement of biosensor and bio-imaging technologies. In this context, in my research group, we develop novel nano-photonics strategies combined with nano-materials to answer various problems in the field of cancer, metabolic medicine, skin and neurodegeneration. Novel optical methods currently being developed fall under two major categories, namely surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for bio-sensing applications, as well as photoacoustic imaging (PAI), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)/diffuse optical imaging (DOI) and hyper spectral imaging (HSI) for bi-imaging applications. On the bio-imaging frontier, our recent advancement in the field of PAI will be discussed. PAI is rapidly progressing as a most promising bio-imaging photonics strategy because it can conquer the diffusion limit unlike other optical modalities by combining the diffuse-light excitation and un-scattered ultrasonic wave detection that lead to increased penetration depth by nearly two orders of magnitude. PAI is being investigated for anatomical imaging of organs and blood vasculature, functional imaging of hemodynamics and blood oxygenation in tumour models, lipid/fat imaging as well as in skin and neurodegenerative disease models. Various PA contrast agents that are being investigated in our lab includes photosensitizers and nano-sensitizers, organic and organo-metallic molecules along with polymer and carbon materials. Multimodal (SERS & PAI, PAI & fluorescence) imaging probes that are being developed will also be discussed. Cutting edge advancement on combining the strategies of PAI with MRI will also be presented.