Moving tissue spectral window to the deep-ultraviolet via optical clearing

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Photomedicine
• Tissue Optics

Background:

• Optical immersion clearing (OIC) has been utilized for decades in the visible to near-infrared spectrum.
• OIC is a key method for advancing optical technologies in clinical settings.

Discussion:

• This study explored OIC's efficacy in the ultraviolet (UV) spectral range (200-1000 nm).
• Colorectal muscle samples were treated with glycerol-water solutions to assess transmittance.
• The treatment induced significant changes in optical properties.

Key Insights:

• Two novel optical windows were created with peak transmittance at 230 nm and 300 nm.
• The magnitude of transmittance increased with higher glycerol concentrations.
• This demonstrates OIC's potential for UV applications in biological tissues.

Outlook:

• The findings suggest the development of new clinical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures utilizing UV light.
• Further research can optimize OIC for specific UV wavelengths and tissue types.
• This opens avenues for enhanced minimally invasive interventions.