Repetitive optical coherence elastography measurements with blinking nanobombs.

Excitation of dye-loaded perfluorocarbon nanoparticles (nanobombs) can generate highly localized axially propagating longitudinal shear waves (LSW) that can be used to quantify tissue mechanical properties without transversal scanning of the imaging beam. In this study, we used repetitive excitations of dodecafluoropentane (C5) and tetradecafluorohexane (C6) nanobombs by a nanosecond-pulsed laser to produce multiple LSWs from a single spot in a phantom. A 1.5 MHz Fourier-domain mode-locked laser in combination with a phase correction algorithm was used to perform elastography. Multiple nanobomb activations were also monitored by detecting photoacoustic signals. Our results demonstrate that C6 nanobombs can be used for repetitive generation of LSW from a single spot for the purpose of material elasticity assessment. This study opens new avenues for continuous quantification of tissue mechanical properties using single delivery of the nanoparticles.