Using Fluorescence Molecular Tomography for Multimodality Fusion Imaging

摘要

Multimodality molecular imaging that combines anatomical and functional information has shown promise in development of tumor-targeted pharmaceuticals for cancer detection or therapy. Most multimodality imaging techniques are based on nuclear imaging modalities and MRI or CT. Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is an emerging optical modality for non-invasive functional imaging and early diagnosis of carcinoma. Three-dimensional FMT can differentiate tissue physiological changes in vivo to provide functional information when used in conjunction with cancer cell selectively targeted probes. In this study, we present the design of such a system for multimodality molecular imaging. A frequency domain radio frequency technique based on commercial amateur radio equipment has been developed. A heterodyne method is used to transfer a low frequency oscillation into a single-side-band at radio frequency. The difference in phase, caused by fluorescence photon density wave, is detected between a transmitting fiber and a receiving fiber bundle, and then measured at lower frequency after demodulation. To achieve multimodality molecular imaging, a new fluorescent labeled tumor-targeting probe, fluorescent bombesin conjugates, has been developed with high affinity and specificity for targeting breast cancer cells. The developed multimodality fusion strategy will provide increased sensitivity/specificity for cancer cells, with respect to any single imaging modality.