Photoacoustic Imaging

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past two decades, we have witnessed the rapid development of photoacoustic imaging. This imaging modality takes the optical absorption of endogenous absorbers or exogenous contrast agents in biological tissue as the imaging contrast, and employs less scattered ultrasound as the detection means. This unique hybrid imaging feature brings photoacoustic imaging higher penetration depth and contrast, as compared with many traditional pure optical imaging methods. Moreover, it has the ability of cross-scale imaging, and can easily be integrated with other imaging methods for multi-modal functional imaging. These characteristics endow photoacoustic imaging with broad application prospects in biomedical research and clinics.

In recent years, although the scanning and image formation methods of photoacoustic imaging have become relatively mature, the application of photoacoustic imaging has increased explosively. Cross research with chemistry and life sciences has significantly promoted the progress of photoacoustic imaging. Various contrast agents including nanoparticles, organic dyes, targeted agents, and genetically expressed markers are being actively developed. Photoacoustic imaging has been applied in studies involving the release control and the monitoring of the dynamics of these contrast agents. Clinical translations of photoacoustic imaging have also achieved remarkable progress. On the other hand, there are still needs in some aspects, such as large depth detection, miniaturization of endoscopic probe, and fast multi-spectral imaging. Advanced imaging models, image reconstruction methods, and signal processing algorithms have been invented to reduce the scanning time and enhance the image quality. The emergence of new laser sources, non-contact ultrasound detection technologies, and novel ultrasound sensors are also important aspects of photoacoustic innovation.

This Special Issue aims at presenting original state-of-the-art research articles on almost all aspects of photoacoustic imaging. However, studies mainly about the synthesis and characterization of photoacoustic contrast agents, with only marginal relation with photoacoustic imaging, are out of the scope of this issue. Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Tomography and deep-tissue imaging;
• Photoacoustic microscopy;
• Contrast agents, molecular probes, and nanoparticles;
• Pre-clinical imaging, clinical translation, and clinical applications;
• Multi-modality systems involving light and sound;
• Microwave induced ultrasound imaging and sensing;
• Laser ultrasound methods and applications;
• Physics and modeling of photoacoustic generation, propagation and detection;
• Advanced photoacoustic and ultrasound signal processing and analysis;
• Image reconstruction algorithms including deep learning;
• Novel lasers and light delivery technologies for the generation and detection of ultrasound;
• Spectroscopy and analysis of compounds.

Prof. Dr. Bo Wang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• Tomography and deep-tissue imaging
• Photoacoustic microscopy
• Contrast agents, molecular probes, and nanoparticles
• Pre-clinical imaging, clinical translation, and clinical applications
• Multi-modality systems involving light and sound
• Microwave induced ultrasound imaging and sensing
• Laser ultrasound methods and applications
• Physics and modeling of photoacoustic generation, propagation and detection
• Advanced photoacoustic and ultrasound signal processing and analysis
• Image reconstruction algorithms including deep learning
• Novel lasers and light delivery technologies for the generation and detection of ultrasound
• Spectroscopy and analysis of compounds