Imaging of IR700DX Labeled Mouse Breast Tumor Using a Custom Angle-Selective Fluorescence Contact Imaging System

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Surgical Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Identifying residual cancer cells post-surgery is critical for effective treatment.
• Current fluorescence imaging devices are limited by bulky optics for detecting small tumor clusters in surgical cavities.
• Need for advanced imaging technologies to improve intraoperative cancer detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a compact, contact fluorescence image sensor for in vivo detection of residual cancer tissue.
• To enhance the visualization of small tumor cell clusters in complex surgical environments.
• To improve surgical outcomes by enabling real-time identification of remaining cancerous cells.

Main Methods:

• Development of a small-scale contact fluorescence image sensor with angle-selective gratings and an amorphous silicon optical wavelength filter.
• Creation of a custom fluorescent probe by conjugating IR700DX dye with Trastuzumab antibody.
• In vivo imaging of HER2+ breast cancer in mouse models using the developed sensor and probe.

Main Results:

• The custom probe significantly enhanced HER2+ breast cancer tissue intensity (3.8±0.8 times brighter) compared to other tissues in vivo.
• The developed sensor successfully imaged excised tumors and residual cancer on healthy tissue.
• Real-time detection of residual cancer was achieved with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 45 dB and a short integration time (40 ms).

Conclusions:

• The developed compact fluorescence image sensor effectively detects residual cancer tissue in vivo.
• This technology offers a promising solution for improving intraoperative cancer margin assessment.
• The sensor's small size and high sensitivity facilitate real-time imaging in challenging surgical conditions.