Next generation in vivo optical imaging with novel short-wave infrared emitting probes

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Oliver Bruns
• Subject Area: Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology ; Biophysics
• Term: from 2018 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 398534632

Today, biomedical imaging techniques like MRI, CT and PET are corner stones for the treatment and management of patients suffering from heart disease, stroke, cancer or autoimmune disease. Developing new targeted contrast agents and novel imaging modalities will pave the way for personalized therapy and high precision treatments in the near future. Imaging in the short-wave infrared region is a new technology for biomedical applications.The SWIR region provides several advantages over the visible and near-infrared regions: general lack of autofluorescence, low light absorption by blood and tissue, and reduced scattering. In this wavelength range tissues become translucent. Recent progress in detection technology and the development of probes demonstrated that, in principal, SWIR imaging enables applications which were previously not feasible with any other technique. These advantages will enable new capabilities in preclinical imaging.While the optical advantages are clear, the successful translation of SWIR imaging into routine applications requires novel, bright and targeted probes as well as advanced imaging setups. Particularly, for clinical translation these probes also have to be safe and non-toxic and the setups convenient and practical for medical staff.Most SWIR imaging setups so far are used for proof of principal demonstrations only. To utilize the full potential, the first goal is developing novel SWIR imaging setups, which enable high-speed intravital imaging, ultra-sensitive whole animal imaging and fluorescence molecular tomography in mice in the SWIR. The second goal of this project is to develop novel bright and targeted SWIR probes for preclinical research in diabetes and oncology.The novel applications include SWIR imaging of physiology and metabolic activity and targeted SWIR imaging of tumors. SWIR intravital microscopy will allow imaging the brain vasculature in mice through intact skin and skull and generating detailed blood flow-maps in mice.In the future advantages of SWIR imaging will also improve fluorescence guided surgery and other clinical applications in precision medicine. To advance clinical research and enable clinicians to utilize and benefit from the great potential of SWIR imaging, the overarching goal of this project is to develop novel non-toxic SWIR probes for future clinical use. The unprecedented sensitivity of SWIR imaging in combination with its deep penetration and high resolution should allow detecting cancer cells in lymph nodes with single cells sensitivity which is an ultimate goal for a surgeon.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups
• Major Instrumentation: 2 scientific-grade SWIR cameras ; SWIR transmissive Microscope
• Instrumentation Group: 5040 Spezielle Mikroskope (außer 500-503) ; 5430 Hochgeschwindigkeits-Kameras (ab 100 Bilder/Sek)