title: Autofluorescence removal, multiplexing, and automated analysis methods for in-vivo fluorescence imaging.
abstract: The ability to image and quantitate fluorescently labeled markers in vivo has generally been limited by autofluorescence of the tissue. Skin, in particular, has a strong autofluorescence signal, particularly when excited in the blue or green wavelengths. Fluorescence labels with emission wavelengths in the near-infrared are more amenable to deep-tissue imaging, because both scattering and autofluorescence are reduced as wavelengths are increased, but even in these spectral regions, autofluorescence can still limit sensitivity. Multispectral imaging (MSI), however, can remove the signal degradation caused by autofluorescence while adding enhanced multiplexing capabilities. While the availability of spectral "libraries" makes multispectral analysis routine for well-characterized samples, new software tools have been developed that greatly simplify the application of MSI to novel specimens.
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Research and Instrumentation, Inc., 35-B Cabot Road, Woburn, Massachusetts 01801, USA.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mansfield
authors.forename: Kirk W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Gossage
authors.forename: Clifford C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hoyt
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Levenson
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D016477:Artifacts; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins