Stokes parameter imaging of multi-index of refraction biological phantoms utilizing optically active molecular contrast agents

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the potential of novel molecular polarimetric imaging techniques utilizing multi-index of refraction targets, i.e. composite targets made from optically different media, immersed into biological fluids doped with optically active molecules and enzymes. The outcome of this study indicates that the application of Stokes parameter detection principles with concominant administration of fluids containing suitable optically active molecular contrast agents and high index of refraction molecules could enhance the detection and imaging process of internal structures by providing enhanced penetration depth, high contrast and high depolarized scatter rejection.

Statistical analysis on polarimetric study of lung cancer cells

“…Studying the optical properties of tissue reveals information that can potentially characterize diseases [3]- [5]. It can provide metabolic information combined with anatomical information which enhances the detection process of early cancer.…”

Infrared photon discrimination of lung cancer cells

“…Optical imaging involves probing tissue with non ionizing radiation in the visible and near-infrared region (400nm-1500nm). Studying the optical properties of tissue reveals information that can potentially characterize diseases [2][3][4]. It can provide metabolic information combined with anatomical information which enhances the detection process of early cancer.…”

Polarimetric phenomenology of photons with lung cancer tissue

“…Light propagating through a scattering medium, like biological tissue, exhibits elastic scattering and absorption. This allows for measurements of the angular distribution of the light intensity, spectroscopic diffuse reflectance, degree of polarization (DOP), depolarization, diattenuation and retardance of the backscattered light, which can carry important information about the optical, biochemical, metabolic and morphological properties of the medium [1,2,6,12,[16][17][18][19]. Typically, cancerous cells exhibit structural, biochemical and metabolic anomalies [19][20][21][22][23][24][25].…”

“…In fact, it has been explored for biomedical applications by a number of authors due to the intrinsic potential of the optical polarimetry to offer high-contrast highspecificity images under high-dynamic range conditions in scattering biological media, immediately offering information related to the tissue structure, composition, metabolic and chemical information, and characterization of the epithelium [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”

“…Specifically, polarimetric metrics [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] based on the degree of polarization (DOP), degree of linear polarization (DOLP), residual intensity, Mueller matrix decomposition matrices such as the diattenuation matrix, retardance matrix and the depolarization matrix can be applied to different types of dysplastic and precancerous lung tissues, aimed at obtaining distinct signature detection and discrimination. Different tissues exhibit different indices of refraction and offer unique polarimetric, scattering and absorption characteristics as a function of the applied wavelength, based on their morphology and metabolism [12,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. For instance, precancerous lung epithelial tissues exhibit higher reflectance, increased DOP and larger retardance characteristics than healthy tissue [14,15], while other types of lung cancers of invasive nature exhibit the opposite behavior.…”