Purpose:
To report the feasibility of utilizing polychromatic diversely-sized particles in retinal vascular studies.
Methods:
Tetramethylrhodamine (TMR), sulforhodamine 101 acid chloride (Texas Red) and Lucifer Yellow CH were conjugated to dextran particles of 10,000 Da, 40,000 Da and 150,000 Da respectively. Topcon 50 VT fundus camera was modified and digitized to allow for imaging Fluorescein, Indocyanine Green (ICG), TMR, Texas Red and Lucifer Yellow. Fluorescein, ICG and dyes conjugates were injected intravenously in rabbits and imaged at different time points and concentrations. Veterinary examination was performed one hour, one day and three days after each imaging session.
Results:
All dyes and dye conjugates were successfully imaged in the rabbit retina. Images were of good quality in 4 out of 5 dyes. None of the rabbits showed signs or symptoms of toxicity over the course of the study.
Conclusions:
The use of polychromatic diversely-sized particles in retinal vascular studies is feasible. The utilized dyes and dyes conjugates produced angiographic images of good quality and were well tolerated by rabbits.
Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • retinal neovascularization