Atherosclerosis in heart vessels
Clinical applications of multiphoton microscopy
Nonlinear optical microscopy (NLOM) provides many opportunities for minimally invasive investigating tissues without exogenous staining. We try to integrate the process from image interpretion, through image analysis and biophysical model to maximize the information which can be presented to the clinician.
The information acquired may provide insight into diagnosis, improved therapeutics and better understanding of disease progression. Basically any tissue may be examined but we are focusing on three main areas: ostheoarthritis in cartilage, atherosclerosis in heart vessels as well as breast cancer. Nonlinear optical microscopy
Research topics
Atherosclerosis in heart vessels
Atherosclerosis is a disease which attacks the blood vessels. The disease is characterized by the formation of a plaque in the vessel wall, which is a pathological modification of the vessel wall structure. These plaques can have different sizes, shapes and morphological structures.
It is believed that a large part of these plaques which are called vulnerable plaques are the cause of the majority of heart attacks. These plaques consist of a thick lipid core covered by a thin fibrous cap, consisting mainly of collagen. The danger is that these plaques can rupture and cause a thrombosis which obstructs the artery, causing a heart attack.
Nonlinear optical microscopy provides (NLOM) is an ideal technique for assessing the vulnerability of these plaques. The collagen cap can easily be detect using the SHG signal of the collagen in the cap (the normal vessel has much less collagen and much more elastin). In addition the 3D dimensional imaging capability of NLOM can be used to assess the thickness of these vulnerable plaques since the thickness of the cap is an important parameter for the mechanical strength of the plaque.
We are also using NLOM to investigate the more detailed structure of the collagen fibres in the cap to see if the structure in addition to the thickness can also provide more information on the vulnerability of the plaque.
Publications
Characterization of vulnerable plaques by multiphoton microscopy. Journal of Biomedical Optics, 2007.
Collagen network in the cap of an atherosclerotic plaque. Red is SHG from collagen fibers and green is TPEF most likely due to cellular compounds or lipid deposits. Photo: Magnus LilledahlContact: Magnus Borstad Lilledahl