Full polarization characterization by OCT

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议研究的长期目标是开发一种用于浅表病变（包括癌症和烧伤）显微成像的新型非侵入性工具。短期目标是将所提出的技术应用于小动物成像。所提出的技术，穆勒矩阵光学相干断层扫描仪，（OCT），可以在真实的时间成像完整的生物组织的完整的偏振特性的第一次在微观尺度（约10微米）在体内。光学偏振特性是生理状态如胶原含量和生物组织异常如坏死的敏感指标，并且它们可以为成像提供新的对比机制。最初，这项技术可能会对小动物实验研究产生影响，因为它可以减少进行研究所需的动物数量和时间，还可以改善研究的时间相关性。除了直接应用外，该技术还具有检测各种浅表人类疾病的潜力-例如口腔癌，皮肤癌，宫颈癌，结肠癌和膀胱癌以及皮肤烧伤-可以直接或通过内窥镜访问，如传统OCT所示。Mueller矩阵可以完全表征任何材料的偏振特性。申请人的小组率先提出了Mueller矩阵OCT，并证明了这种新的成像模式可以揭示传统OCT无法观察到的组织结构。Mueller矩阵OCT已经在烧伤中显示出惊人的偏振对比度。拟议研究的具体目标如下，其中动物实验将具有双焦点：皮肤癌成像（动物模型1）和烧伤成像（动物模型2）。目标1。开发了一种自由空间Mueller矩阵OCT系统，用于真实的实时成像具有深度和横向分辨率的生物组织Mueller矩阵。目标2.通过对组织样本进行离体成像，表征申报系统的能力并了解OCT偏振对比度的来源。将Mueller矩阵图像与常规和偏振光显微镜的相应组织学结果进行比较，并确定Mueller矩阵图像与组织学结构之间的关系。目标3：进一步开发了自由空间Mueller矩阵OCT系统，并构建了用于体内应用的手持式探头。将光纤系统的实验结果与原自由空间系统的实验结果进行比较。目标4。通过在小鼠模型（动物模型1）中对皮肤癌进行体内成像，表征所提出的手持式探头的能力。检测皮肤癌的位置、大小和Mueller矩阵对比度，并与常规和偏振光显微镜的组织学结果进行比较。分析和表征动物模型中皮肤癌的时间进展。目标5。通过在小型猪模型（动物模型2）中对体内皮肤烧伤进行成像，表征申报手持式探头的能力。检测皮肤烧伤的横向范围、深度和米勒矩阵对比度，并与常规和偏振光显微镜的组织学结果进行比较。分析和表征烧伤动物模型的时间愈合过程。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term objective of the proposed research is to develop a novel, non-invasive tool for microscopic imaging of superficial lesions, including cancers and burns. The short-term goal is to apply the proposed technology in small-animal imaging. The proposed technique, Mueller-matrix optical coherence tomograph, (OCT), can image in real time the complete polarization properties of intact biological tissues for the first time at the microscopic scale (about 10 microns) in vivo. Optical polarization properties are sensitive indicators of physiological states such as the collagen content and abnormalities of biological tissues such as necrosis, and they can provide novel contrast mechanisms for imaging. Initially, this technology will likely have an impact on small-animal experimental studies because it can reduce the number of animals needed and the time required to conduct a study and can also improve the temporal correlation of a study. In addition to the immediate applications, this technology has the potential to detect various superficial human diseases--such as oral, skin, cervical, colon, and bladder cancers as well as skin burns--that can be accessed either directly or endoscopically as already demonstrated by conventional OCT. Mueller matrices can completely characterize the polarization properties of any material. The applicants' group pioneered Mueller-matrix OCT and demonstrated that this new imaging modality reveals tissue structures that are not observable with conventional OCT. Striking polarization contrast has already been shown in burns by Mueller-matrix OCT. The specific aims of the proposed research are as follows, in which the animal experiments will have dual foci: the imaging of skin cancers (animal model 1) and the imaging of burns (animal model 2). Aim 1. Develop a free-space Mueller-matrix OCT system to image Mueller matrices of biological tissues with both depth and lateral resolutions in real time. Aim 2. Characterize the capability of the proposed system and understand the origin of OCT polarization contrast by imaging tissue samples ex vivo. Compare the Mueller-matrix images with the corresponding histological results from both conventional and polarization light microscopes and identify the relationships between the Mueller-matrix images and the histological structures. Aim 3. Further develop the free-space Mueller-matrix OCT system using fiber optics and construct a hand-held probe for in vivo applications. Compare the experimental results from the fiber-optic system with those from the original free-space system. Aim 4. Characterize the capability of the proposed hand-held probe by imaging skin cancers in vivo in a mouse model (animal model 1). Detect the location, size, and Mueller-matrix contrast of skin cancers in comparison with the histological results from both conventional and polarization light microscopes. Analyze and characterize the temporal progression of skin cancer in the animal model. Aim 5. Characterize the capability of the proposed hand-held probe by imaging skin burns in vivo in a mini-pig model (animal model 2). Detect the lateral extent, depth, and Mueller-matrix contrast of skin burns in comparison with the histological results from both conventional and polarization light microscopes. Analyze and characterize the temporal healing process of burns in the animal model.