Multiscale photoacoustic tomography using reversibly switchable bacterial phytochrome as a near-infrared photochromic probe

Junjie Yao, Andrii A. Kaberniuk, Lei Li, Daria M. Shcherbakova, Ruiying Zhang, Lidai Wang, Guo Li, Vladislav V. Verkhusha, Lihong V. Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

222 Scopus citations

Abstract

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) of genetically encoded probes allows for imaging of targeted biological processes deep in tissues with high spatial resolution; however, high background signals from blood can limit the achievable detection sensitivity. Here we describe a reversibly switchable nonfluorescent bacterial phytochrome for use in multiscale photoacoustic imaging, BphP1, with the most red-shifted absorption among genetically encoded probes. BphP1 binds a heme-derived biliverdin chromophore and is reversibly photoconvertible between red and near-infrared light-absorption states. We combined single-wavelength PAT with efficient BphP1 photoswitching, which enabled differential imaging with substantially decreased background signals, enhanced detection sensitivity, increased penetration depth and improved spatial resolution. We monitored tumor growth and metastasis with ∼100- 1/4m resolution at depths approaching 10 mm using photoacoustic computed tomography, and we imaged individual cancer cells with a suboptical-diffraction resolution of ∼140 nm using photoacoustic microscopy. This technology is promising for biomedical studies at several scales.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)67-73
Number of pages7
JournalNature Methods
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 30 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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