New Imaging Technique For Lymphatic System

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Lymphatic system

The lymphatic system, the body’s second-biggest circulatory network, is essential for maintaining fluid balance and immunological function. Moreover, despite its importance, understanding lymphatic channel function has been difficult due to limited imaging tools. Hence, a new imaging technique has been defined to overcome this challenge.

Studying the lymphatic system is challenging due to the high variability in vessel structure and arrangement. In addition, the challenges also include small size and the inability to accurately measure lymph transport over time using imaging methods. For example, X-ray, fluorescence lymphangiography, and photoacoustic imaging.

However, recent advances in shortwave-infrared (SWIR) imaging present a possible alternative. Offering crisper and more comprehensive images of lymphatic circulation than classic near-infrared (NIR) imaging.

According to the Journal of Biomedical Optics (JBO), researchers recently used SWIR fluorescence imaging to study the anatomy and function of lymphatic veins in vivo. They aimed to determine the effectiveness of SWIR imaging in providing detailed lymphatic images in an animal model by comparing two imaging modalities—near-infrared first window (NIR-I, 700–900 nm) and SWIR (900–1800 nm)—and two fluorescent probes—indocyanine green (ICG) and silver sulphide quantum dots (QDs).

The findings revealed that SWIR imaging greatly lowers scattering and autofluorescence background, resulting in crisper images. SWIR imaging with ICG provided 1.7 times greater resolution and sensitivity than NIR-I, but SWIR imaging with QDs substantially quadrupled resolution and sensitivity, improving lymphatic vessel differentiation. This advancement enables for more precise assessment of vessel size in vivo when compared to standard NIR-I imaging.

The study concluded that SWIR imaging, particularly with silver sulphide QDs, gives better picture resolution than typical NIR-I imaging approaches. This innovation in imaging technology has enormous promise to improve our understanding of the lymphatic system and its activities.

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