Bioimaging: second window for in vivo imaging

Abstract

Enhanced fluorescence from carbon nanotubes and advances in near-infrared cameras have opened up a new wavelength window for small animal imaging.

Figures

Figure 1. Optical windows in biological tissues

Top: These plots of effective attenuation coefficient (on a log scale) versus wavelength show that absorption and scattering from oxygenated blood, deoxygenated blood, skin and fatty tissue is lowest in either the first (pink shaded area) or second (grey) near-infrared window,. Bottom: Sensitivity curves for typical cameras based on silicon (Si), indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) or mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) sensors. Si and InGaAs cameras are sensitive within the first and second near-infrared windows, respectively, whereas HgCdTe is most sensitive at longer wavelengths.