Improved label-free diagnostics and pathological assessment of atherosclerotic plaques through nonlinear microscopy

Year: 2018

Authors: Baria E., Nesi G., Santi R., Maio V., Massi D., Pratesi C., Cicchi R., Pavone FS.

Autors Affiliation: CNR, Natl Inst Op, Florence, Italy; Univ Florence, Dept Surg & Translat Med, Florence, Italy; Univ Florence, Dept Expt & Clin Med, Florence, Italy; Univ Florence, European Lab Nonlinear Spect, Florence, Italy; Univ Florence, Dept Phys, Florence, Italy.

Abstract: Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease caused by atherosclerosis. In fact, an arterial wall lesion centered on the accumulation of cholesterol-rich lipids and the accompanying inflammatory response generates a plaque, whose rupture may result in a thrombus with fatal consequences. Plaque characterization for assessing the severity of atherosclerosis is generally performed through standard histopathological examination based on hematoxylin/eosin staining, which is operator-dependent and requires relatively long procedures. In this framework, nonlinear optical microscopy is a valid, label-free alternative to standard diagnostic methods. We combined second-harmonic generation (SHG), two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy in a multimodal scheme for obtaining morphological and molecular information on human carotid ex vivo specimens affected by atherosclerosis. In this study, discrimination between different tissues within the atherosclerotic plaque was achieved based on both lifetime, TPEF-to-SHG ratio, and image pattern analysis. The presented methodology aims to be a starting point for future fully automated and fast characterization of atherosclerotic biopsies; moreover, it could be extended to the study of other tissues and pathologies.
Combined TPEF/SHG mapping of a carotid specimen affected by atherosclerosis.

Journal/Review: JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS

Volume: 11 (11)      Pages from: e201800106-1  to: e201800106-9

More Information: European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research, Grant/Award Number: project LITE; Horizon 2020, Grant/Award Number: 654148; Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca, Grant/Award Number: NANOMAX; Ministero della Salute, Grant/Award Number: GR-2011-02349626; Regione Toscana, Grant/Award Number: PAR FAS Salute Gliomics
KeyWords: Cardiology; Diagnosis; Fluorescence imaging; Fluorescence microscopy; Harmonic generation; Histology; Microscopic examination; Nonlinear optics; Tissue, Atherosclerosis; FLIM; Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy; Histopathological examinations; Nonlinear optical microscopy; Plaque characterizations; TPEF; Two-photon excited fluorescence, Diseases
DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201800106

Citations: 7
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