In Vivo Monitoring of Microcirculation in Burn Healing Process with Optical Microangiography

Objective: Optical microangiography (OMAG)-based optical coherence tomography is a noninvasive technique capable of imaging functional microvasculature innervating scanned tissue volume. In this study, we utilize OMAG to investigate dynamic changes of microcirculation during the healing process of a burn. Approach: A soft-contact superficial burn injury was induced on a mouse ear with 1 μL 70°C hot water. Microangiograms were generated by using OMAG before and after the burn. Results: Vessel recruitment and remodeling were observed in the healing process. Burn injury reached to the worst extent within the first 24 h and had no expansion thereafter. The interrupted microcirculation in the mouse ear was progressively recovered in the consequent postburn days and completely healed on postburn day 7. Innovation: OMAG provides a novel way for noninvasive visualization and quantification of vasculature changes over time after burn injuries. The high resolution achieved by the imaging system reveals microvascula...