Neovascularization/Angiogenesis

PSI for Neovascularization/Angiogenesis

Neovascularization is the formation of new microvascular networks. In vivo, this process is primarily achieved through Angiogenesis, the sprouting of new vessels from existing vessels. Neovascularization/Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in many therapies and pathologies which is why it is so widely studied in many fields among them, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Vascular Biology, and Cancer Biology. Many models exist, depending on the application, for drug development/delivery, disease characterization, and stem cell treatment. There is a need for tools that can be used for assessment of new vessel formation, preferably through non-invasive and non-destructive methods. The PeriCam PSI Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging System can be used to track changes in microvascular blood perfusion overtime. Studies have shown that increases in perfusion correspond to more functional blood vessel formation. The PeriCam PSI has been used in several of these models.

(A) Photo of dorsal view and longitudinal PSI Perfusion images of a mouse with two subcutaneous fibrin scaffold implants with and without angiogenic growth factor. The ROIs were chosen based on the physical location of the implants. (B) Quantification of the change in perfusion relative to day 0, based on an ROI analysis of the PSI Perfusion images, shows an overall increase in perfusion over time. The greatest change in perfusion was observed on day 7, with +bFGF scaffolds trending toward greater perfusion than -bFGF scaffolds 1-2.
Figure courtesy of Dr. Mario Fabiilli from LED-Based Photoacoustic Imaging for Monitoring Angiogenesis in Fibrin Scaffolds Author: Yunhao Zhu, Xiaofang Lu, Xiaoxiao Dong, et al Publication: Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods
Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Date: Sep 1, 2019.

Overview

PeriCam PSI has been proven to be a useful tool in a range of different fields within the area of neovascularization and angiogenesis research. One main field is the research of pro-angiogenic therapies for peripheral arterial disease and wound healing in pre-clinical animal models. For PAD, Ischemia is surgically induced in the lower extremity and confirmed using the PeriCam PSI and the dynamic process of perfusion recovery can be followed over time. Similarly, cutaneous wounds are created, and the PeriCam PSI is used to follow normal healing. In both models, the PeriCam PSI enables the researcher to follow the same subjects longitudinally saving time and money by reducing the number of animals needed for a study.

Another field is the study of cancer in the CAM Assay and Subcutaneous tumor models and the development of anti-angiogenic agents for treatment. The PeriCam PSI can be used to monitor perfusion in the tumors as they progress and assess the efficacy of therapeutics aimed to starve them.

Hind Limb Ischemia (HLI)

The Murine Hindlimb Ischemia preparation is a commonly used and important model for studying peripheral arterial disease. It involves unilateral femoral artery ligation and excision to induce acute limb ischemia allowing for assessment of vascular regeneration, angiogenesis and arteriogenesis by a variety of strategies such as growth factor delivery and cell therapy. It can also be used to evaluate pro-angiogenic effects of therapeutic agents 3-12 or natural recovery in healthy 13 vs. diseased (diabetic) 14-16 young vs. aged 17, and wild type vs. knock out animals 18-20.

The PeriCam PSI Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging System is used to confirm ischemia post-surgery by measuring a decrease in blood perfusion in the microcirculation (60-70%) and longitudinally monitor the efficacy of the treatment strategy. Typically, each animal is followed for up to a month post-surgery/treatment with the PSI to document incremental increases in blood perfusion as a result of revascularization saving the researcher time and money by reducing the number of animals needed for a study.

Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) Assay

During the chicken embryo development, the CAM is formed by fusion of the mesodermal layer of the allantois with the mesodermal layer of the chorion. It is a highly vascularized, non-innervated extra embryonic membrane making it an ideal substrate for the study of angiogenesis and tumor growth. A fertilized chicken egg is incubated for four to eight days when a window is created in the shell to observe the forming embryo and blood vessels.

For the angiogenesis assay, various biomolecules and drugs can be topically delivered and studied for their angiogenic potency. Biomaterial scaffolds can also be implanted and monitored for vessel invasion overtime in order to assess a tissue engineering strategy.

For cancer models, various types of cancer cells can be transplanted into the CAM for tumor growth. This provides a relatively simple model for studying many different cancer tumor formations and allows for testing new therapy drugs and personalized treatment strategies. The CAM model is highly reproducible, cost effective, and does not require approval from an ethics board like many other in vivo animal models. Additionally, the CAM model has a natural immunodeficiency making it ideal for cell transplantation and the closed system prolongs the half-life of many experimental molecules, reducing the amount needed in studies.

The PeriCam PSI Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging System can be used to measure the change in blood perfusion in the angiogenesis assay and detect differences in the efficacy of various pro-angiogenic compounds. It can also be used to monitor the formation of functional intratumoral blood vessels 25 and assess the effectiveness of anti-angiogenic agents for cancer treatment.

PSI Z perfusion of CAM Assay day 6 after fertilization.

Subcutaneous Tumor

The growth and metastasis of tumors depends on the development of blood vessels and an effective microcirculation. Without angiogenesis, a small focus of tumor cells cannot grow at a secondary site. Since angiogenesis plays a central role in tumor growth, progression, invasion, and metastasis, inhibiting it provides a potential strategy for some cancer treatment.

The Subcutaneous tumor model is the most popular assessment system for in vivo evaluation of novel anti-cancer medicine candidates. Usually using immunodeficient animal strains, cultured cancer cells are subcutaneously implanted resulting in solid tumor formation in about 2 weeks. A wide variety of human and murine cancer cell lines have been adapted to grow in a rodent host and thus allow evaluation of therapeutics in the relevant tumor model. Researchers monitor tumor growth and progression, and often perform a tumor microvessel density assay to assess the efficacy of their treatment strategy. The PeriCam PSI can be used to monitor the blood perfusion in the subcutaneous tumors over time and assess the efficacy of anti-angiogenic therapies for the treatment of cancer.

Perfusion images of mouse ear with subcutaneous tumor at day 14. Images reflect an increase in tumor blood perfusion in response to a heating challenge.

References:

1. LED-Based Photoacoustic Imaging for Monitoring Angiogenesis in Fibrin Scaffolds. Yunhao Zhu, Xiaofang Lu, Xiaoxiao Dong, Jie Yuan, Mario L. Fabiilli, and Xueding Wang. 9, September 2019, Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods, Vol. 25, pp. 523-531.
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