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Published on: October 17, 2016
Following dimethyl sulfoxide skin optical clearing dynamics with quantitative nonlinear multimodal microscopy
Maxwell Zimmerley1, R Anthony McClure, Bernard Choi
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA.
Applied Optics
|April 3, 2009
Summary
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) optically clears skin by altering collagen structure, reducing tissue scattering. This combined SHG and CARS imaging study reveals DMSO
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Dermatology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Optical clearing enhances imaging depth in biological tissues.
- Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a common optical clearing agent.
- Collagen is a key structural protein in skin, affecting optical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of DMSO on human skin's optical properties using multimodal nonlinear microscopy.
- To elucidate the morphological and structural changes induced by DMSO in the dermal collagen matrix.
- To quantify the impact of DMSO-mediated optical clearing on tissue scattering and SHG signals.
Main Methods:
- Combined Second-Harmonic Generation (SHG) imaging and Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) microscopy.
- Ex vivo human skin samples treated with DMSO.
- Dynamic monitoring of nonlinear optical signals and tissue attenuation during the clearing process.
Main Results:
- DMSO induced significant morphological alterations in the collagen I matrix.
- A reduction in the overall SHG response from dermal collagen was observed.
- DMSO treatment decreased the tissue's overall scattering properties.
- Evidence suggests DMSO compromises the structural integrity of collagen fibers.
Conclusions:
- DMSO-mediated optical clearing of skin involves structural modification of collagen.
- The reduction in scattering properties is linked to DMSO's effect on collagen fiber integrity.
- Multimodal nonlinear microscopy provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of optical clearing agents.
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