Laboratory of Experimental Optical Imaging

Head: Khaydukov, Evgeny V.

The main goal of Laboratory of Experimental Optical Imaging is development and design of

novel optical systems capable to image and manipulate scaffolds and regenerated tissues in vivo

at the centimetre depth, non-invasively and interactively. This capability is attained by rendering

an implanted scaffold optically conspicuous in the organism of laboratory animals by

impregnating the scaffold with contrast probes and discriminating optical signals from the probe

and biological tissue using a purpose-designed optical imaging system. Therefore, the

Laboratory focus is two-fold: (1) synthesis of novel imaging probes and their integration into

scaffolds; (2) design of advanced optical imaging systems for scaffold imaging and manipulation

both in vitro and in vivo.

Photoluminescent nanomaterials (e.g. upconversion nanoparticles, UCNPs), fluorescent proteins

(e.g. m-Cherry) and infrared fluorescent dyes are explored as the contrast imaging probes. A

basic optical system is an ultrahigh-sensitivity hybrid laser-scanning imaging instrument capable

to detect signals at the centimeter depth in living tissues of small animals.

Our expertise also includes synthesis and applications of nanomaterials with unique

photophysical and physical properties, such as magneto-optical and optoacoustic.