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In vivo characterization of minipig skin as a model for dermatological research using multiphoton microscopy
Author(s) -
Alex Aneesh,
Chaney Eric J.,
Žurauskas Mantas,
Criley Jennifer M.,
Spillman Darold R.,
Hutchison Phaedra B.,
Li Joanne,
Marjanovic Marina,
Frey Steve,
Arp Zane,
Boppart Stephen A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/exd.14152
Subject(s) - human skin , in vivo , fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy , elastin , preclinical imaging , biomedical engineering , melanin , characterization (materials science) , fluorescence , pathology , chemistry , materials science , medicine , biology , nanotechnology , optics , biochemistry , physics , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
Minipig skin is one of the most widely used non‐rodent animal skin models for dermatological research. A thorough characterization of minipig skin is essential for gaining deeper understanding of its structural and functional similarities with human skin. In this study, three‐dimensional (3‐D) in vivo images of minipig skin was obtained non‐invasively using a multimodal optical imaging system capable of acquiring two‐photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) images simultaneously. The images of the structural features of different layers of the minipig skin were qualitatively and quantitatively compared with those of human skin. Label‐free imaging of skin was possible due to the endogenous fluorescence and optical properties of various components in the skin such as keratin, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAD(P)H), melanin, elastin and collagen. This study demonstrates the capability of optical biopsy techniques, such as TPEF and FLIM, for in vivo non‐invasive characterization of cellular and functional features of minipig skin, and the optical image‐based similarities of this commonly utilized model of human skin. These optical imaging techniques have the potential to become promising tools in dermatological research for developing a better understanding of animal skin models, and for aiding in translational pre‐clinical to clinical studies.