In vivo label-free photoacoustic microscopy of cell nuclei by excitation of DNA and RNA

Opt Lett. 2010 Dec 15;35(24):4139-41. doi: 10.1364/OL.35.004139.

Abstract

Imaging of cell nuclei plays a critical role in cancer diagnosis and prognosis. To image noninvasively cell nuclei in vivo without staining, we developed UV photoacoustic microscopy (UV-PAM), in which 266 nm wavelength UV light excites unlabeled DNA and RNA in cell nuclei to produce photoacoustic waves. We applied UV-PAM to ex vivo imaging of cell nuclei in a mouse lip and a mouse small intestine and to in vivo imaging of the cell nuclei in the mouse skin. The UV-PAM images of unstained cell nuclei match the optical micrographs of the histologically stained cell nuclei. Given intrinsic optical contrast and high spatial resolution, in vivo label-free UV-PAM has potential for unique biological and clinical application.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Cell Nucleus / radiation effects*
  • DNA / analysis
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Light*
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Acoustic / methods*
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • RNA / analysis
  • RNA / chemistry*

Substances

  • RNA
  • DNA