Optoacoustic (OA) Microscopy is a promising non-invasive medical imaging technique that is able to obtain 3D structural information by making use of the optoacoustic effect, i.e. the creation of ultrasonic pressure waves upon absorption of light. Combining this with the fact that the hemoglobin contained in red blood cells is the dominant absorber inside biological tissue, it provides high contrast 3D imaging of the vasculature at a spatial resolution superior to what can be achieved by MRI or micro-CT. Since blood perfusion and -oxygenation are important markers for cancer detection, OA microscopy could prove valuable in this context. Using OA microscopy, our group has studied the brain vasculature of malaria-infected mice (see Figure) and is engaged in the general development of the technique.
