Stored luminescence computed tomography

Appl Opt. 2014 Sep 1;53(25):5672-6. doi: 10.1364/AO.53.005672.

Abstract

Phosphor nanoparticles made of doped semiconductors and pre-excited by x-ray radiation were recently reported for their luminescence emission in the range of 650-770 nm upon near-infrared (NIR) light stimulation. These nanophosphors can be functionalized as optical probes for molecular imaging. In this paper, we present stored luminescence computed tomography to reconstruct a nanophosphor distribution in an object. The propagation of x rays in a biological object allows significantly better localization and deeper penetration. Moreover, the nanophosphors, which are pre-excited with collimated x-ray beams or focused x-ray waves, can be successively stimulated for stored luminescence emissions by variable NIR stimulation patterns. The sequentially detected luminescence signals provide more information of a nanophosphor spatial distribution for more accurate image reconstruction and higher image resolution. A realistic numerical study is performed to demonstrate the feasibility and merits of the proposed approach.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Light
  • Luminescent Measurements / methods*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / radiation effects*
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / methods*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*