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Quantifying Fibrillar Collagen Organization with Curvelet Transform-Based Tools
Published on: November 11, 2020
Second harmonic generation microscopy for quantitative analysis of collagen fibrillar structure
Xiyi Chen1, Oleg Nadiarynkh, Sergey Plotnikov
1Department of Biomedica l Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Nature Protocols
|March 10, 2012
Summary
Second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy images fibrillar collagen in tissues. This technique offers detailed structural insights into collagen, crucial for understanding diseases like cancer and fibrosis.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Microscopy
- Biomaterials Imaging
Background:
- Second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy is a key technique for visualizing fibrillar collagen.
- Collagen structure alterations are implicated in various diseases, including cancer and fibrosis.
- SHG's sensitivity to collagen fibril/fiber structure provides unique diagnostic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the state-of-the-art and physical principles of SHG microscopy for collagen imaging.
- To detail optical modifications for laser-scanning microscopes to perform SHG measurements.
- To discuss the capabilities and limitations of different experimental configurations for biomedical applications.
Main Methods:
- Overview of SHG microscopy principles and instrumentation.
- Description of optical modifications for laser-scanning microscopes.
- Analysis of experimental configurations for biomedical applications.
Main Results:
- SHG microscopy provides superior structural information on collagen assembly compared to other techniques.
- The technique is sensitive to disease-related changes in collagen structure.
- Detailed discussion on instrument setup, calibration, and limitations.
Conclusions:
- SHG microscopy is a powerful tool for imaging fibrillar collagen and its structural changes in disease.
- Understanding SHG principles and experimental configurations is crucial for its effective biomedical application.
- The technique offers enhanced insights into tissue structure relevant to cancer, fibrosis, and connective tissue disorders.
