title: Imaging of targeted lipid microbubbles to detect cancer cells using third harmonic generation microscopy.
abstract: The use of receptor-targeted lipid microbubbles imaged by ultrasound is an innovative method of detecting and localizing disease. However, since ultrasound requires a medium between the transducer and the object being imaged, it is impractical to apply to an exposed surface in a surgical setting where sterile fields need be maintained and ultrasound gel may cause the bubbles to collapse. Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) is an emerging tool for accurate, label-free imaging of tissues and cells with high resolution and contrast. We have recently determined a novel application of MPM to be used for detecting targeted microbubble adherence to the upregulated plectin-receptor on pancreatic tumor cells. Specifically, the third-harmonic generation response can be used to detect bound microbubbles to various cell types presenting MPM as an alternative and useful imaging method. This is an interesting technique that can potentially be translated as a diagnostic tool for the early detection of cancer and inflammatory disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, 1127 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona, 85721, USA; Department of Medical Imaging, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, 1609 N. Warren Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85719, USA.
authors.forename: Kaitlin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harpel
authors.affiliation: College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, 1603 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Robert Dawson
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, 1603 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amirsolaimani
authors.affiliation: College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, 1603 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Soroush
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehravar
authors.affiliation: Ligand Discovery Laboratory, BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, 1657 E. Helen Street, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, 1127 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona, 85721, USA; Department of Medical Imaging, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, 1609 N. Warren Ave., Tucson, Arizona, 85719, USA.
authors.forename: Terry O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, 1127 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona, 85721, USA; College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, 1603 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA; Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, 1501 N. Campbell, Tucson, Arizona, 85724, USA.
authors.forename: Bhaskar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, 1603 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Khanh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kieu
keywords: (020.4180) Multiphoton processes; (170.1610) Clinical applications; (190.1900) Diagnostic applications of nonlinear optics; (320.7090) Ultrafast lasers