Dynamic 3D super-resolution ultrasound imaging of micro-circulation and genetically encoded acoustic reporters in vivo

Our vision is to generate a powerful yet highly accessible in vivo imaging platform, enabling non-invasive whole-body microscopy of tissue microcirculation and cellular and molecular biomarkers. Ultrasound is ideally suited to dynamic in vivo imaging due to its deep penetration and high temporal resolution.

However, historically it lacked the ability to visualize molecular and cellular biomarkers, its spatial resolution is diffraction limited, and dynamic 3D imaging has numerous challenges. We have assembled a team of complementary expertise capable of addressing these challenges.

We have developed 1) in vivo super-resolution ultrasound (SRUS) which has overcome the classical diffraction limit and enabled microscopic resolution, and 2) ultrafast 3D ultrasound.

In parallel our collaborator developed the first acoustic reporter genes and acoustic biosensors based on a unique class of air-filled proteins called gas vesicles that scatter sound waves, offering sensitivity and specificity for acoustic imaging of molecular and cellular targets.

We will develop whole-body SRUS technologies based on a new class of transducers and advanced computing as well as acoustic reporters and demonstrate in vivo dynamic mapping of cells and disease biomarkers.

If successful, this project will enable imaging of currently inaccessible physiology and molecular and cellular biology in rodents in vivo.