Conclusions
We demonstrate use of a novel, handheld endomicroscope based on the dual axes confocal architecture to collect NIR fluorescence images in vertical cross-sections over a large FOV (800 × 400 μm2) to detect Cy5.5-labeled peptides that bind specifically to pre-malignant colonic mucosa. This instrument can potentially be used in vivo to guide tissue biopsy and stage disease progression when scaled down further in size.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge support from the University of Michigan Rackham International Student Fellowship (Z. Q.) and from NIH R01 CA142750 and U54 CA136429 (T. D. W.). We thank H. Schenk for discussion on the MEMS resonant scanner, A. Shih for advice on the precision instrument development, T. Donajkowski for discussion and support of miniature endomicroscope prototyping, and J. Y. Cho for support with laser cutting in K. Najafi’s MEMS research lab.