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Label-Free, Longitudinal Visualization of PDT Response In Vitro with Optical Coherence Tomography
Yookyung Jung1, Alexander J Nichols, Oliver J Klein
1Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (USA).
Abstract:
A major challenge in creating and optimizing therapeutics in the fight against cancer is visualizing and understanding the microscale spatiotemporal treatment response dynamics that occur in patients. This is especially true for photodynamic therapy (PDT), where therapeutic optimization relies on understanding the interplay between factors such as photosensitizer localization and uptake, in addition to light dose and delivery rate. In vitro 3D culture systems that recapitulate many of the biological features of human disease are powerful platforms for carrying out detailed studies on PDT response and resistance. Current techniques for visualizing these models, however, often lack accuracy due to the perturbative nature of the sample preparation, with light attenuation complicating the study of intact models. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an ideal method for the long-term, non-perturbative study of in vitro models and their response to PDT. Monitoring the response of 3D models to PDT by time-lapse OCT methods promises to provide new perspectives and open the way to cancer treatment methodologies that can be translated towards the clinic.
Insights
Visualizing cancer treatment response in 3D models is challenging. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers a non-perturbative method to monitor photodynamic therapy (PDT) in real-time, aiding therapeutic optimization.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cancer Research
- Optical Imaging
Background:
- Optimizing cancer therapeutics, particularly photodynamic therapy (PDT), requires understanding microscale treatment response dynamics.
- Current visualization methods for 3D in vitro cancer models are often inaccurate due to sample preparation and light attenuation.
- Accurate visualization is crucial for studying PDT, which depends on photosensitizer uptake and light dose.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) as a non-perturbative method for studying 3D in vitro cancer models.
- To demonstrate the utility of time-lapse OCT for monitoring photodynamic therapy (PDT) response in real-time.
- To facilitate the development of improved PDT treatment strategies through enhanced visualization.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for non-perturbative, long-term monitoring of 3D in vitro cancer models.
- Employed time-lapse imaging to capture dynamic changes in response to photodynamic therapy (PDT).
- Focused on overcoming limitations of traditional visualization techniques, such as sample perturbation and light attenuation.
Main Results:
- OCT enables accurate, real-time visualization of PDT effects within intact 3D cancer models.
- Time-lapse OCT monitoring provides insights into spatiotemporal treatment response dynamics.
- The method overcomes challenges associated with light attenuation and sample preparation.
Conclusions:
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a powerful tool for studying photodynamic therapy (PDT) in 3D in vitro models.
- Non-perturbative, time-lapse OCT imaging offers new perspectives on cancer treatment response.
- This approach has the potential to advance cancer treatment methodologies toward clinical application.
