Unobstructed blood vessels are a prerequisite and foundation for our health. However, unhealthy lifestyle and long-term irregular meal pattern may cause excessive deposition of lipids on vessel walls and increase blood viscosity, leading to blood clots and plaques. Regular examination for peripheral vascular diseases is essential to prevent such risks.

Chair of SAHZU Nuclear Medicine Prof. ZHANG Hong and his team have recently developed a novel Near Infrared Region II fluorescence imaging technology that is able to conduct functional and morphological analysis of vessels, and quantitative and graded assessment of the peripheral vascular disease with molecular markers. The goal of the technology is to provide accurate examination and prognosis evaluation of peripheral vascular diseases for patients with chronic conditions.

The article was published on Nano Today entitled Precise Examination of Peripheral Vascular Disease for Diabetics with a Novel Multiplexed NIR-II Fluorescence Imaging Technology (Click to View article), with HUANG Haoying, the PhD student of Prof. ZHANG Hong, as the first author.

Near infrared region II (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) fluorescence imaging technology offers optical imaging advantages such as fast imaging, multi-channel signal acquisition, high sensitivity and zero radiation, providing structural and functional information with high spatial and temporal resolution for the clinical needs of regular peripheral vascular examination. In their research, Prof. ZHANG and his team designed a molecular probe for NIR-II ratiometric fluorescence, V&S@Au:Ag2Te. It targets damaged vascular endothelial cells, pinpoints lesion locations with bright NIR-II fluorescence signals, and quantifies the risk of apoptosis of inflammatory cells and the extent of lesion damage by ratiometric fluorescence.

This novel imaging technology can be used for early and graded diagnosis of various ischemia and reperfusion-associated diseases. Moreover, if further complemented by more portable fluorescence imaging equipment and systematic image analysis software, this technology can be a convenient tool for the evaluation of peripheral vascular disease and guard the health of high-risk populations.