Summary

A novel optical imaging technology will be a perfect alternation for X-ray imaging due to their high sensitivity for bone and non-ionizing radiation

Abstract

X-Ray imaging have been widely applied for the intraoperative location of bone tunnel due to its inherent high sensitivity for bone imaging. However, X-ray examination is considered to be the biggest artificial sources of ionizing radiation, and this medical exposed could cause potential physical hazard for both patients and surgeons. Alternatively, optical imaging, especially for fluorescence imaging in the second near-infrared window, not only has the advantages of no-ionizing radiation, but also has unprecedented penetration depth. More importantly, a novel image agent--- shortwave infrared fluorescence nanoprobe has been successfully synthesized and developed in our recent works, which demonstrates a unique property for binding bone tissue in a mice model. In our study, these major bone structures of mice such as vertebrae, phalanges, humerus, and fibula, etc, pare clearly observed based on our constructed shortwave infrared in vivo imaging platform. In summary, considering its advantages of non-ionizing radiation and cheap, this novel optical imaging technology will be a perfect alternation for X-ray imaging in future.