title: Spectroscopic intravascular photoacoustic imaging of lipids in atherosclerosis.
abstract: The natural history of atherosclerosis is marked by changes in the lipid biochemistry in the diseased arterial wall. As lesions become more vulnerable, different cholesterol species accumulate in the plaque. Understanding unstable atherosclerosis as a pharmacological and interventional therapeutic target requires chemically specific imaging of disease foci. In this study, we aim to image atherosclerotic plaque lipids and other vessel wall constituents with spectroscopic intravascular photoacoustics (sIVPA). sIVPA imaging can identify lipids in human coronary atherosclerotic plaque by relying on contrast in the near-infrared absorption spectra of the arterial wall components. Using reference spectra acquired on pure compounds, we analyzed sIVPA data from human coronary plaques ex vivo, to image plaque composition in terms of cholesterol and cholesterol ester content. In addition, we visualized the deeper lying connective tissue layers of the adventitia, as well as the fatty acid containing adipose cells in the peri-adventitial tissue. We performed simultaneous coregistered IVUS imaging to obtain complementary morphological information. Results were corroborated by histopathology. sIVPA imaging can distinguish the most prevalent lipid components of human atherosclerotic plaques and also visualize the connective tissue layers of the adventitia and the fatty acid containing adipose cells in the peri-adventitial tissue.
authors: Unit Experimental Cardiology, Thorax Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The NetherlandsbInteruniversity Cardiology Institute of The Netherlands-Netherlands Heart Institute, PO Box 19258, 35.
authors: Krista
authors: K
authors: Jansen
authors: Unit Experimental Cardiology, Thorax Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The NetherlandsbInteruniversity Cardiology Institute of The Netherlands-Netherlands Heart Institute, PO Box 19258, 35.
authors: Antonius F W
authors: AF
authors: van der Steen
authors: Unit Experimental Cardiology, Thorax Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Wu
authors: Unit Experimental Cardiology, Thorax Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Heleen M M
authors: HM
authors: van Beusekom
authors: Experimental Medical Instruments, Department of Experimental Medical Instruments, Erasmus MC, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Geert
authors: G
authors: Springeling
authors: University of Southern California, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Los Angeles, California 90089.
authors: Xiang
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: University of Southern California, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Los Angeles, California 90089.
authors: Qifa
authors: Q
authors: Zhou
authors: University of Southern California, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Los Angeles, California 90089.
authors: K Kirk
authors: KK
authors: Shung
authors: Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of The Netherlands-Netherlands Heart Institute, PO Box 19258, 3501 DG, Utrecht, The NetherlandsfCardiovascular Research Institute, National University Heart Center, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road Singapore 119074, SingaporegU.
authors: Dominique P V
authors: DP
authors: de Kleijn
authors: Unit Experimental Cardiology, Thorax Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Gijs
authors: G
authors: van Soest
mesh_terms: D063194:Adventitia / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol