Quantitative characterization of cellular dynamics in wound healing using multimodal microscopy

In this thesis, cellular dynamics in skin under various pathological conditions were characterized utilizing multimodal multiphoton and optical coherence microscopy (MPM OCM). Through these studies, additional insights were gained regarding the complex relationships among different skin constituents, and how abnormal pathological states can easily disrupt the homeostasis in the skin microenvironment. At the molecular level, the robustness and cellular resolution of multimodal MPM OCM enabled longitudinal tracking of the effect of recombinant interleukin on the chemical environment in wounded skin. At the cellular level, the efficacy of stem cell treatment on accelerating wound closure on diabetic skin was characterized. Most importantly, the effectiveness of nonlinear microscopy on visualizing relationship between administered cells and local host environment was clearly demonstrated. In addition, the potential of multimodal MPM OCM as a screening tool for pharmaceutical treatment was demonstrated through analyzing the mechanisms of a novel topical ointment on stimulating angiogenesis in non-healing diabetic wounds. Though nonlinear microscopy possesses great potentials as a clinical diagnostic imaging system, significant limitations were revealed in this thesis that the skin miroenvironment cannot be further understood without technology capable of characterizing cellular dynamics in ways similar to the native environment. To address this challenge, a video-rate multimodal microscopy system was developed, together with a multimodal 3D image analysis platform. A pilot study was performed to demonstrate the combination of high-speed imaging and 3D analysis tool can potentially reinvent the way pathological environment of diseases were characterized. By improving current imaging and analytical techniques for studying diseases in their natural states, optical imaging technology may have broader impact on biomedical research and natural sciences.U of I OnlyAuthor requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD syste