title: Multispectral photoacoustic microscopy based on an optical-acoustic objective.
abstract: We have developed reflection-mode multispectral photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) based on a novel optical-acoustic objective that integrates a customized ultrasonic transducer and a commercial reflective microscope objective into one solid piece. This technical innovation provides zero chromatic aberration and convenient confocal alignment of the optical excitation and acoustic detection. With a wavelength-tunable optical-parametric-oscillator laser, we have demonstrated multispectral PAM over an ultrabroad spectral range of 270-1300 nm. A near-constant lateral resolution of ∼2.8 μm is achieved experimentally. Capitalizing on the consistent performance over the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared range, multispectral PAM enables label-free concurrent imaging of cell nucleus (DNA/RNA contrast at 270 nm), blood vessel (hemoglobin contrast at 532 nm), and sebaceous gland (lipid contrast at 1260 nm) at the same spatial scale in a living mouse ear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kilroy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
authors.forename: Tianxiong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hossack
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
keywords: Blood vessel; Cell nucleus; Lipid; Multispectral imaging; Optical–acoustic objective; Photoacoustic microscopy