Recent advances in optical imaging through deep tissue: imaging probes and techniques

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Biophotonics
• Translational Medicine

Background:

• Optical imaging is vital but limited by poor tissue penetration due to scattering and absorption.
• Challenges include signal attenuation and limited imaging depth in living tissues.
• Overcoming these limitations is crucial for advanced biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advances in multi-scale optical imaging within deep tissues.
• To provide researchers with multi-disciplinary understanding and broad perspectives.
• To highlight progress in translational medicine and convergence science through improved optical imaging.

Main Methods:

• Development of novel imaging probes (e.g., NIR-II, bioluminescence, chemiluminescence, afterglow imaging).
• Implementation of advanced optical techniques like adaptive optics (AO).
• Utilizing wavefront sensing (direct/indirect) and matrix-based approaches for aberration correction.

Main Results:

• New probes enhance tissue penetration and signal-to-background ratio.
• Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing techniques improve imaging depth and clarity.
• Matrix-based methods offer post-processing correction for optical aberrations.

Conclusions:

• Recent advances in imaging probes and optical techniques enable successful deep-tissue optical imaging.
• These developments are crucial for multi-scale imaging in biophotonics and translational medicine.
• Further research promises broader perspectives in diverse scientific fields.