Raman Imaging: An Impending Approach Towards Cancer Diagnosis

In accordance with the recent studies, Raman spectroscopy is well experimented as a highly sensitive analytical and imaging technique in biomedical research, mainly for various disease diagnosis including cancer. In comparison with other imaging modalities, Raman spectroscopy facilitate numerous assistances owing to its low background signal, immense spatial resolution, high chemical specificity, multiplexing capability, excellent photo stability and non-invasive detection capability. In cancer diagnosis Raman imaging intervened as a promising investigative tool to provide molecular level information to differentiate the cancerous vs non-cancerous cells, tissues and even in body fluids. Anciently, spontaneous Raman scattering is very feeble due to its low signal intensity and long acquisition time but new advanced techniques like coherent Raman scattering (CRS) and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) gradually superseded these issues. So, the present review focuses on the recent developments and applications of Raman spectroscopy-based imaging techniques for cancer diagnosis.     

Characterization and Diagnosis of Cancer by Native Fluorescence Spectroscopy of Human Urine

Urine is one of the diagnostically important bio fluids, as it has different metabolites in it, where many of them are native fluorophores. Native fluorescence characteristics of human urine samples were studied using excitation–emission matrices (EEMs) over a range of excitation and emission wavelengths, and emission spectra at 405 nm excitation, to discriminate patients with cancer from the normal subjects. The fluorescence spectra of urine samples of cancer patients exhibit considerable spectral differences in both EEMs and emission spectra with respect to normal subjects. Different ratios were calculated using the fluorescence intensity values of the emission spectra and they were used as input variables for a multiple linear discriminant analysis across different groups. The discriminant analysis classifies 94.7% of the original grouped cases and 94.1% of the cross‐validated grouped cases correctly. Based on the fluorescence emission characteristics of urine and statistical analysis, it may be concluded that the fluorophores nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavins may be considered as metabolomic markers of cancer.     

硒化镉量子点膜的拉曼光谱及拉曼成像分析

研究了CdSe量子点膜的Raman光谱,发现CdSe量子点的横模(TO)振动活性较强,表面模(SO)、纵模(LO)振动不明显。比较了量子点、氧化三辛基膦及十六胺的Raman光谱,证明量子点表面大部分区域被十六胺及二辛胺修饰。在此基础上,对量子点膜的TO模振动及C-H弯曲振动峰进行了Raman成像分析,并与明场图像进行了对比,表明拉曼成像信号对量子点膜的表面变化非常敏感。     

Photobleaching in Two‐Photon Scanning Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

Two‐photon excitation in fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is often preferred to one‐photon excitation because of reduced bulk photobleaching and photodamage, and deeper penetration into scattering media, such as thick biological specimens. Two‐photon FCS, however, suffers from lower signal‐to‐noise ratios which are directly related to the lower molecular brightness achieved. We compare standard FCS with a fixed measurement volume with scanning FCS, where the measurement volume is scanned along a circular path. The experimental results show that photobleaching is the dominant cause of the effects observed at the high excitation powers necessary for good signal‐to‐noise ratios. Theoretical calculations assuming a nonuniform excitation intensity profile, and using the concept of generalized volume contrast, provide an explanation for the photobleaching effects commonly observed in two‐photon FCS at high excitation intensities, without having to assume optical saturation. Scanning alleviates these effects by spreading the photobleaching dose over a larger area, thereby reducing the depletion of fluorescent molecules in the measurement volume. These results, which facilitate understanding of the photobleaching in FCS and of the positive effects of scanning, are particularly important in studies involving the autocorrelation amplitude g(0), such as concentration measurements or binding studies using fluorescence cross‐correlation between two labeled species.     

Nanoaggregate Probe for Breast Cancer Metastasis through Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography and Aggregation-Induced NIR-I/II Fluorescence Imaging

An activatable nanoprobe for imaging breast cancer metastases through near infrared-I (NIR-I)/NIR-II fluorescence imaging and multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) imaging was designed. With a dihydroxanthene moiety serving as the electron donor, quinolinium as the electron acceptor and nitrobenzyloxydiphenylamino as the recognition element, the probe can specifically respond to nitroreductase and transform into an activated D-π-A structure with a NIR emission band extending beyond 900 nm. The activated nanoprobe exhibits NIR emission enhanced by aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and produces strong optoacoustic signal. The nanoprobe was used to detect and image metastases from the orthotopic breast tumors to lymph nodes and then to lung in two breast cancer mouse models. Moreover, the nanoprobe can monitor the treatment efficacy during chemotherapeutic course through fluorescence and MSOT imaging.     

新鲜乳腺癌组织的近红外拉曼光谱分析

采用便携式拉曼光谱仪对正常、良性和恶性的乳腺癌组织进行检测,通过对其拉曼光谱的指认,归纳了其主要区别和特征. 在3类乳腺组织中有明显的脂类的特征峰（1230,1268,1301,1440和1743 cm^-1）,而在良性和恶性的组织中,则出现了较为明显的蛋白（1246,1271,1315和1364 cm^-1）和核酸（1340 cm^-1）的特征峰. 良性和恶性组织的区别在于恶性组织特有的特征峰（1340 cm^-1）,而良性组织所特有的特征峰则应归属为蛋白. 在数据分析过程中,选择能够反映样本化学本质的特征峰,利用高斯过程的机器学习对特征峰值建立模型. 特异性（0.94）、灵敏度（0.95）和Matthews相关系数（0.86）表明在模型中3种组织有比较良好的辨别度,对于应用拉曼光谱方法辨别正常和患病乳腺组织具有参考价值.     

Glycosylated Star‐Shaped Conjugated Oligomers for Targeted Two‐Photon Fluorescence Imaging

A glucopyranose functionalized star‐shaped oligomer, N‐tris{4,4′,4′′‐[(1E)‐2‐(2‐{(E)‐2‐[4‐(benzo[d]thiazol‐2‐yl)phenyl]vinyl}‐9,9‐bis(6‐2‐amido‐2‐deoxy‐1‐thio‐β‐D ‐glucopyranose‐hexyl)‐9H‐fluoren‐7‐yl)vinyl]phenyl}phenylamine (TVFVBN‐S‐NH₂), is synthesized for two‐photon fluorescence imaging. In water, TVFVBN‐S‐NH₂ self‐assembles into nanoparticles with an average diameter of ～49 nm and shows a fluorescence quantum yield of 0.21. Two‐photon fluorescence measurements reveal that TVFVBN‐S‐NH₂ has a two‐photon absorption cross‐section of ～1100 GM at 780 nm in water. The active amine group on the glucopyranose moiety allows further functionalization of TVFVBN‐S‐NH₂ with folic acid to yield TVFVBN‐S‐NH₂FA with similar optical and physical properties as those for TVFVBN‐S‐NH₂. Cellular imaging studies reveal that TVFVBN‐S‐NH₂FA has increased uptake by MCF‐7 cells relative to that for TVFVBN‐S‐NH₂, due to specific interactions between folic acid and folate receptors on the MCF‐7 cell membrane. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of glycosylation as a molecular engineering strategy to yield water‐soluble materials with a large two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross‐section for targeted cancer‐cell imaging.     

Crystallization of Silica Xerogels: A Study by Raman and Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Pure and europium doped silica xerogels were annealed at 1050°C to obtain full densification, and at 1300°C to induce crystallization. Raman spectroscopy, time resolved selective luminescence and lifetime measurements were performed on glassy and crystallized samples. We discuss the differences between the Raman spectra of the xerogel annealed at 1050°C and those of a commercial silica. The typical Raman structures of -crystobalite are evident for the 1300°C annealed samples, but a glassy phase coexists, indicating an incomplete crystallization. Fluorescence measurements give information on the environment of the Eu³⁺ ions in the glassy and crystallized sample.     

拉曼光谱在感染性疾病诊断中的应用进展

感染性疾病危害人类健康,以及全球公共卫生安全.引起感染性疾病的病原微生物种类非常复杂,已有的检测技术通常检测时间长且检出率低,因此临床上急需可用于快速诊断感染性疾病的检测技术.拉曼光谱(Raman spectroscopy)技术为无标记非侵入式检测,无需复杂的前处理,具有无损伤、检测时间短等优点,在感染性疾病快速诊断中...     

基于核磁和质谱分析技术的代谢组学在癌症诊断中的应用

本文对近年来用于癌症诊断的新方法——代谢组学及其在该领域内的应用进行了简要介绍。代谢组学通过定性与定量测量生物样本(血液、尿液、组织等)中数以千计的小分子代谢物,可灵敏地反映代谢组中与病理状态有关的细微变化,从而可为癌症的早期诊断及更好地理解癌变过程提供一种新颖的思路。本文还讨论了代谢组学与系统生物学中其它一些组学在癌症检测上的关联,介绍了一些用代谢组学进行不同癌症的诊断、治疗监测以及药物开发的前期研究工作,并探讨了用于临床癌症诊断的代谢组学方法所面临的机遇、挑战与未来发展方向。     

A Renal-Clearable Macromolecular Reporter for Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is a prevalent disease with high morbidity and mortality; however, in vivo optical imaging of BC remains challenging because of the lack of cancer-specific optical agents with high renal clearance. Herein, a macromolecular reporter (CyP1) was synthesized for real-time near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging and urinalysis of BC in living mice. Because of the high renal clearance (ca. 94 % of the injection dosage at 24 h post-injection) and its cancer biomarker (APN=aminopeptidase N) specificity, CyP1 can be efficiently transported to the bladder and specially turn on its NIRF signal to report the detection of BC in living mice. Moreover, CyP1 can be used for optical urinalysis, permitting the ex vivo tracking of tumor progression for therapeutic evaluation and easy translation of CyP2 as an in vitro diagnostic assay. This study not only provides new opportunities for non-invasive diagnosis of BC, but also reveals useful guidelines for the development of molecular reporters for the detection of bladder diseases.     

铋基纳米材料在癌症成像诊断与治疗中的应用

随着纳米医学的快速发展,纳米诊疗材料因其兼具诊断和治疗等多功能性而受到越来越多的关注.铋(Bi)基纳米材料具有优异的光学、电学和磁学性质,在肿瘤的诊疗一体化领域具有广阔的应用前景.我们总结了Bi基纳米材料常用的构建方法,重点介绍了其在计算机断层扫描(CT)成像、光声(PA)成像、放射疗法(RT)、光热疗法(PTT)及协...     

基于稳健统计的新鲜乳腺组织拉曼光谱分析

采用便携式拉曼光谱仪对新鲜乳腺正常组织、良性组织和恶性组织进行检测,通过稳健统计方法对拉曼光谱数据进行分析处理,建立乳腺组织拉曼光谱标准图谱,根据标准图谱特征峰归纳3类组织的主要区别和特征.在3类乳腺组织中,正常组织有明显的脂类特征峰(1078,1297,1437,1653,1746 cm-1),而在良性和恶性组织中则出现了较明显的蛋白特征峰(1259,1530,1650 cm-1),正常、良性和恶性组织的主要区别集中在1340和1534 cm-1处,应归属为蛋白和类胡萝卜素,这一结果并不能由经典统计方法得出.基于稳健统计建立的新鲜乳腺组织拉曼光谱标准图谱为构建数学模型来鉴别乳腺病灶的性质奠定了基础.     

Nanoaggregate Probe for Breast Cancer Metastasis through Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography and Aggregation‐Induced NIR‐I/II Fluorescence Imaging

An activatable nanoprobe for imaging breast cancer metastases through near infrared‐I (NIR‐I)/NIR‐II fluorescence imaging and multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) imaging was designed. With a dihydroxanthene moiety serving as the electron donor, quinolinium as the electron acceptor and nitrobenzyloxydiphenylamino as the recognition element, the probe can specifically respond to nitroreductase and transform into an activated D‐π‐A structure with a NIR emission band extending beyond 900 nm. The activated nanoprobe exhibits NIR emission enhanced by aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) and produces strong optoacoustic signal. The nanoprobe was used to detect and image metastases from the orthotopic breast tumors to lymph nodes and then to lung in two breast cancer mouse models. Moreover, the nanoprobe can monitor the treatment efficacy during chemotherapeutic course through fluorescence and MSOT imaging.     

pH敏感铱、钌和铂配合物在肿瘤靶向荧光成像和治疗中的应用

肿瘤组织的微酸性环境为肿瘤准确诊断和有效治疗提供了新思路。pH敏感性金属配合物因具有较高的物理化学稳定性,突出的光谱特性和肿瘤靶向性等性质,引起高度关注。本文综述了这种肿瘤酸性微环境的产生机制以及近年来对这种酸性微环境敏感的铱、钌、铂配合物作为肿瘤成像和治疗试剂的研究进展。     

Spectroscopy,Microscopy and Fluorescence Imaging of Origanum vulgare L. Basis for Nondestructive Quality Assessment

The organs of Origanum vulgare L. plant were examined by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and autofluorescence imaging. The different organs were also studied spectroscopically. Fluorescence emission spectra were recorded for intact inflorescences, leaves and stems. Several fluorescence ratios (Blue/Red, Blue/Far‐red, Green/Red and Green/Far‐red), which varied depending on the considered organ of the plant, were derived. For leaves, a dependence of fluorescence spectra with water content was obtained as well. The intact samples were also analyzed by Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. These spectra were transformed to the Remission function depending on the wavenumber and two absorption bands (811 and 1740 cm^?1), which displayed differences according to the plant organ sampled, were detected. These results were consistent with higher carvacrol content in inflorescences. The spectroscopic results were connected with the microscopic observation and with the presence of relevant nutraceutics contained in the plant. The optical indexes derived in this work may serve as potential indicators to be explored in the development of nondestructive methods for oregano quality assessment.     

Enhanced Fluorescence Imaging and Photodynamic Cancer Therapy Using Hollow Mesoporous Nanocontainers

Here we show that “off‐on” type of photodynamic therapy agents could be developed using hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNPs), which can be used not only for enhancing delivery of photosensitizers to cancer cells but also for enabling switchable optical properties of the photosensitizers. Fluorescence and singlet oxygen generation of the photosensitizer‐loaded HMSNP are turned off in its native state. In vitro cell studies showed that this HMSNP‐based “off‐on” agent may have potential utility in selective fluorescence detection and photodynamic therapy of cancers.