Our lab has developed an optical method for measuring intracellular oxygen using Protoporphyrin IX, a naturally occurring molecule in the human body. The fluorescence signal emitted by Protoporphyrin IX varies based on local oxygen levels, enabling the identification of hypoxic tissue—regions with low oxygenation often associated with malignancies. This approach provides surgeons with a powerful tool to assess tissue viability and treatment response. Unlike traditional contrast mechanisms, which depend on agent distribution, this method leverages tissue metabolism, offering a complementary and robust imaging strategy when conventional techniques are insufficient.
Publication:
1. Protoporphyrin IX delayed fluorescence imaging: a modality for hypoxia-based surgical guidance;
2. Pressure-enhanced sensing of tissue oxygenation via endogenous porphyrin: Implications for dynamic visualization of cancer in surgery