Development of near-Infrared fluorescence imaging in the second optical window

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H04459
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 90110:Biomedical engineering-related
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: JIN TAKASHI 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 生命機能科学研究センター, チームリーダー (80206367)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 精山 明敏 京都大学, 医学研究科, 教授 (70206605)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 生体の第2光学窓 / 近赤外 / 短波赤外 / 蛍光 / 生体イメージング / 分子イメージング / 乳がん

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Light in the shortwave infrared region (wavelength 1-1.4 microns, the second optical window of living organisms) is highly suitable for non-invasive visualization and manipulation of cellular states at the cell, tissue, organ, and even individual level. The first reason is that it is several times lower energy than visible and near-infrared light, which means that light irradiation causes less damage and allows imaging and optical manipulation over a longer period of time. The second reason is that the light absorption by biological tissues is low and the transmittance is excellent, and light scattering in the tissues is reduced, resulting in much clearer deep fluorescence images than with conventional methods. In this study, we developed a "non-invasive imaging technique for cells, tissues, and organs in an individual body at the second optical window" for optical diagnosis of pathological conditions in humans.

Free Research Field

生体医工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

乳がんは15才から60才代女性のがんの罹患率第１位で、その死亡者数は近年増加傾向にあります。大きさ1cm以下の早期乳がん（リンパ節転移なし）は切除手術により、ほぼ確実に治癒できます。そのため乳がんを早期に検出する技術は、乳がん治療において非常に重要です。現在、乳がんの検査法として、マンモグラフィーや超音波診断が用いられていますが、これらの方法では早期乳がんを検出し確定診断することは困難です。本研究は、世界に先駆けて、ヒトでの早期乳がんを短波赤外蛍光で非侵襲イメージングする技術を開発するものであり、乳がんの診断・治療において大きな貢献が期待できます。