title: Three-dimensional multispectral optoacoustic mesoscopy reveals melanin and blood oxygenation in human skin in vivo.
abstract: Optical imaging plays a major role in disease detection in dermatology. However, current optical methods are limited by lack of three-dimensional detection of pathophysiological parameters within skin. It was recently shown that single-wavelength optoacoustic (photoacoustic) mesoscopy resolves skin morphology, i.e. melanin and blood vessels within epidermis and dermis. In this work we employed illumination at multiple wavelengths for enabling three-dimensional multispectral optoacoustic mesoscopy (MSOM) of natural chromophores in human skin in vivo operating at 15-125 MHz. We employ a per-pulse tunable laser to inherently co-register spectral datasets, and reveal previously undisclosed insights of melanin, and blood oxygenation in human skin. We further reveal broadband absorption spectra of specific skin compartments. We discuss the potential of MSOM for label-free visualization of physiological biomarkers in skin in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Chair for Biological Imaging, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, München, Germany.|Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.affiliation: Chair for Biological Imaging, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, München, Germany.|Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buehler
authors.affiliation: Chair for Biological Imaging, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, München, Germany.|Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aguirre
authors.affiliation: Chair for Biological Imaging, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, München, Germany. v.ntziachristos@tum.de.|Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging, Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbH, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany. v.ntziachristos@tum.de.
authors.forename: Vasilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ntziachristos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: dermatology; diagnostic imaging; optoacoustic techniques; photoacoustic techniques; spectrum analysis