title: Multispectral optoacoustic tomography of myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility of a high resolution optical imaging strategy for myocardial infarction.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Near-infrared approaches to imaging cardiovascular disease enable visualization of disease-associated biological processes in vivo. However, even at the scale of small animals, the strong scattering of light prevents high resolution imaging after the first 1-2 mm of tissue, leading to degraded signal localization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) was used to non-invasively image myocardial infarction (MI) in a murine model of coronary artery ligation at resolutions not possible with current deep-tissue optical imaging methods. Post-MI imaging was based on resolving the spectral absorption signature of a dendritic polyglycerol sulfate-based (dPGS) near-infrared imaging agent targeted to P- and L-selectin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vivo imaging succeeded in detection of the agent in the injured myocardium after intravenous injection. The high anatomic resolution (<200 μm) achieved by the described method allowed signals originating in the infarcted heart to be distinguished from uptake in adjacent regions. Histological analysis found dPGS signal in infarcted areas, originating from leukocytes and endothelial cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MSOT imaging of myocardial infarction provides non-invasive visualization of optical contrast with a high spatial resolution that is not degraded by the scattering of light.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany ; Chair for Biological Imaging, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taruttis
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wildgruber
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kosanke
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany ; Chair for Biological Imaging, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beziere
authors.affiliation: mivenion GmbH, Robert-Koch-Platz 4, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Licha
authors.affiliation: Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haag
authors.affiliation: Research Unit Analytical Pathology - Institute for Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aichler
authors.affiliation: Research Unit Analytical Pathology - Institute for Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walch
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rummeny
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany ; Chair for Biological Imaging, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Vasilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ntziachristos
keywords: Myocardial infarction; Optical imaging; Optoacoustic imaging