Imaging the bio-distribution of fluorescent probes using multispectral epi-illumination cryoslicing imaging.
OBJECTIVE
The increasing availability of fluorescent probes for in vivo optical imaging enables the interrogation of complex biological processes in small animals serving as models for human-like tissue function and disease. However, the validation of probe bio-distribution during their development or the study of different disease models, in support of in vivo imaging studies, is not straightforward.


METHODS
The imaging system developed consists of a customized multispectral planar imager that has been adapted on a commercial cryomicrotome and provides a powerful modality for ex vivo imaging of small animals.


RESULTS
The ability to capture 3D anatomical (color) and fluorescence volumetric distributions of multiple fluorescent markers in high resolution is showcased.


CONCLUSIONS
Serving both as a method for accurately imaging the bio-distribution of multiple fluorescent agents inside organisms and as a modality for the validation of non-invasive methods, multispectral cryoslicing imaging offers useful insights to ex vivo optical imaging of molecular probes.
Sarantopoulos
Athanasios
A
Chair for Biological Imaging, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Themelis
George
G
Ntziachristos
Vasilis
V
D000818:Animals; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes