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Nonlinear Optical Microscopy for Melanoma: Challenges, Tools and Opportunities
Author(s) -
Evans Conor L.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/php.12916
Subject(s) - microscopy , computer science , ex vivo , nanotechnology , optical imaging , preclinical imaging , materials science , optics , in vivo , biology , physics , microbiology and biotechnology
The natural pigments known as melanins are thought to play a role in the etiology and progression of melanoma, but many of their roles are currently not well understood. While quantification of melanins have, up until now, have been performed in bulk tissue ex vivo , new imaging technologies have unlocked the means to visualize and quantify melanins at the sub‐cellular scale . The nonlinear imaging methods known as pump‐probe, coherent Raman, and sum‐frequency absorption microscopies provide subcellular resolution imaging of melanins, enabling label‐free, longitudinal quantification of both eumelanin and pheomelanin in situ and in vivo . These nonlinear imaging toolkits have been well proven in both animal models and human samples, moving them tantalizingly close to clinical application. Future efforts integrating these tools into practical, mobile imaging systems will provide immense benefit both to clinical research and practice.