Multispectral nanoparticle contrast agents for true-color spectroscopic optical coherence tomography

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Spectroscopic Imaging
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a valuable imaging modality.
• Spectroscopic OCT (sOCT) provides functional information.
• Imaging chromophores in scattering media presents challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel dual window processing scheme for spectroscopic OCT.
• To enable spatially resolved true color imaging of chromophores.
• To assess the utility of this method for in vivo applications.

Main Methods:

• Development of a dual window processing algorithm for sOCT.
• Measurement of extinction spectra of plasmonic nanoparticles.
• Application of the method to tissue phantoms and cell studies.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated sub-nanomolar sensitivity in nanoparticle concentration measurements.
• Achieved enhanced contrast using colorimetric imaging with multiple nanoparticle species.
• Validated the technique in both tissue phantom and cell studies.

Conclusions:

• The dual window scheme provides spatially resolved true color imaging.
• This method offers high sensitivity for detecting nanoparticles.
• Spectroscopic OCT with colorimetric imaging has potential for in vivo applications.