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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/46504
Description
Title
Cerenkov Luminescence Imaging
Author(s)
Rubrecht, Wolfgang I.
Contributor(s)
Boppart, Stephen
Issue Date
2012-05
Keyword(s)
imaging
medical imaging
in vivo imaging
optical imaging
Cerenkov luminescence
Cerenkov radiation
Abstract
The phenomenon of Cerenkov radiation has demonstrated a nascent potential for application in optical-based in vivo small animal imaging. This thesis demonstrates that Cerenkov light can be detected in both phantoms and biological tissue samples with optical imaging methods. It documents investigative research into the potential uses and limitations of Cerenkov luminescence in the context of optical imaging. An initial experiment provided results showing a positive relationship between radiopharmaceutical tracer concentration (the source Cerenkov radiation in this research) and Cerenkov luminescence output, illustrated the importance of the refractive index of the medium in which Cerenkov radiation occurs, and exposed some of the limitations of optical tissue imaging with Cerenkov radiation. A subsequent follow-up experiment explored one possible method of addressing said limitations, namely the addition of quantum dots (semiconductor nanocrystals with desirable specific electromagnetic characteristics) for Cerenkov Radiation Energy Transfer (CRET). The results suggest that this approach yields a detected optical signal that is better aligned with the biological imaging window and promises improvements in vivo application challenges. Most recently, aspects of the previous two experiments were repeated under slightly different experimental conditions and with adjusted methods in an effort to improve on the previously discovered results. The results further expanded the current understanding on the potential uses and limitations of Cerenkov luminescence. Future work will continue to explore the potential of Cerenkov luminescence in related novel approaches to optical and multimodal imaging.
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