Label-free photoacoustic microscopy of peripheral nerves

Thomas P. Matthews; Chi Zhang; Da-Kang Yao; Konstantin I. Maslov; Lihong V. Wang

doi:10.1117/1.JBO.19.1.016004

6 January 2014 Label-free photoacoustic microscopy of peripheral nerves

Thomas P. Matthews, Chi Zhang, Da-Kang Yao, Konstantin I. Maslov, Lihong V. Wang

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Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 19, Issue 1, 016004 (January 2014). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.19.1.016004

Abstract

Peripheral neuropathy is a common neurological problem that affects millions of people worldwide. Diagnosis and treatment of this condition are often hindered by the difficulties in making objective, noninvasive measurements of nerve fibers. Photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) has the ability to obtain high resolution, specific images of peripheral nerves without exogenous contrast. We demonstrated the first proof-of-concept imaging of peripheral nerves using PAM. As validated by both standard histology and photoacoustic spectroscopy, the origin of photoacoustic signals is myelin, the primary source of lipids in the nerves. An extracted sciatic nerve sandwiched between two layers of chicken tissue was imaged by PAM to mimic the in vivo case. Ordered fibrous structures inside the nerve, caused by the bundles of myelin-coated axons, could be observed clearly. With further technical improvements, PAM can potentially be applied to monitor and diagnose peripheral neuropathies.

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Thomas P. Matthews, Chi Zhang, Da-Kang Yao, Konstantin I. Maslov, and Lihong V. Wang "Label-free photoacoustic microscopy of peripheral nerves," Journal of Biomedical Optics 19(1), 016004 (6 January 2014). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.19.1.016004

Published: 6 January 2014

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