All-terahertz fiber-scanning near-field microscopy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Terahertz Imaging
• Microscopy

Background:

• Distinguishing cancerous from normal tissue often requires invasive procedures.
• Current imaging techniques may lack the specificity or resolution for early-stage cancer detection.
• Terahertz (THz) imaging offers label-free contrast mechanisms based on tissue properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a room-temperature operated all-terahertz (THz) fiber-scanning near-field imaging system.
• To assess the system's potential for non-invasive, label-free cancer diagnosis.
• To integrate THz near-field microscopy with conventional optical microscopy.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a compact, upright-type THz fiber-scanning near-field microscope.
• Utilizing transmission illumination for near-field imaging.
• System integration with an optical microscope for correlative imaging.

Main Results:

• Successful demonstration of a room-temperature all-THz fiber-scanning near-field imaging system.
• The system exhibits a compact design suitable for integration.
• The THz near-field imaging shows potential for differentiating cancerous from normal breast tissue without staining.

Conclusions:

• The developed THz near-field imaging system is a viable tool for label-free tissue analysis.
• Its room-temperature operation and compact design enhance its practical applicability.
• This technology holds promise for improving breast cancer diagnostics by enabling unstained tissue differentiation.