Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, Volume. 62, Issue 18, 1817020(2025)

Handheld Multispectral Photoacoustic Imaging Probe for Label-Free Lipid Detection and Imaging Performance Optimization (Invited)

Chuanmiao Yu1,2, Shang Qiao2,3, Liangjian Liu2, Chengbo Liu2、***, Yunyao Zhang3、**, and Yaguang Ren2、*
Author Affiliations
  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong , China
  • 2Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong , China
  • 3School of Information Science and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710119, Shaanxi , China
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    Lipids play a crucial role in the development of metabolic diseases. However, traditional imaging techniques still face challenges such as low sensitivity and insufficient penetration depth in the specific imaging of lipid tissues. To improve lipid imaging capabilities and meet the needs of clinical translation, we develop a handheld multispectral photoacoustic imaging probe integrated with D?O coupling and multiwavelength excitation, enabling label-free and high-sensitivity lipid detection through non-negative matrix factorization-based spectral unmixing. Comparative experiments on oil sample in the tube, ex vivo adipose tissues, and pork belly phantom demonstrate that the signal-to-noise ratio of lipid images at 1210 nm improves by approximately 33 dB over 930 nm. Lipid signal intensities are 4.9?6.0 times that of the 930 nm band. In in vivo imaging of mouse abdominal fat, the system achieves a noninvasive imaging depth exceeding 1.5 cm, revealing clear and accurately localized lipid distributions in complex tissue environments. This work represents the implementation of D2O coupling in a portable probe, substantially improving photoacoustic signal transmission efficiency at high-absorption near-infrared wavelengths. The system offers a lightweight and practical solution for lipid imaging, providing a novel technical pathway for early screening and clinical monitoring of lipid metabolism-related disorders.

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    Chuanmiao Yu, Shang Qiao, Liangjian Liu, Chengbo Liu, Yunyao Zhang, Yaguang Ren. Handheld Multispectral Photoacoustic Imaging Probe for Label-Free Lipid Detection and Imaging Performance Optimization (Invited)[J]. Laser & Optoelectronics Progress, 2025, 62(18): 1817020

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    Paper Information

    Category: Medical Optics and Biotechnology

    Received: May. 16, 2025

    Accepted: Jun. 6, 2025

    Published Online: Sep. 16, 2025

    The Author Email: Chengbo Liu (cb.liu@siat.ac.cn), Yunyao Zhang (yunyaozhang@nwu.edu.cn), Yaguang Ren (yg.ren@siat.ac.cn)

    DOI:10.3788/LOP251235

    CSTR:32186.14.LOP251235

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