Visualizing the Microcirculation

Abstract

Over the last century, scientific discoveries have revealed the critical role of the microcirculation in maintaining homeostasis and the etiology of diseases ranging from cancer to COVID-19. These advances have coincided with and even been made possible by the exponential progress in imaging and visualization techniques capable of characterizing the structural and functional diversity of the microcirculation. Consequently, this special issue (SI) showcases a broad selection of tools and methods for elucidating the role of the microcirculation in health and disease. In this exciting compendium of globally contributed articles, authors investigate in vitro and in vivo models, describe new imaging methods spanning from the endothelial cell to the whole organ scale, as well as analytical approaches focused on the microvascular and lymphatic systems. Also included are articles describing the use of ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging of the microcirculation in the clinical and preclinical realms. We believe this SI on "Visualizing the Microcirculation" contains something for everyone, from basic scientists to clinicians interested in the microcirculation.