Micrometer-Scale Biomechanical Characterization of Oral Mucosa Using Spatial Phase-Gradient Tracking Optical
Sweta Satpathy1, Arpita Rai2, Priya Shree3
1Biophotonics Lab, Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India.
Journal of Biophotonics
|March 25, 2026
Summary
A new optical coherence elastography system non-invasively measures oral tissue stiffness. It accurately distinguishes healthy, cancerous, and pre-cancerous tissues, showing potential for early oral cancer detection.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Medical Imaging
- Biophysics
Background:
- Oral cancer diagnosis relies on invasive biopsies.
- Quantitative biomechanical assessment of oral tissues is lacking.
- Non-invasive methods are needed for early detection and characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a high-speed optical coherence elastography (OCE) system.
- To quantitatively assess oral tissue biomechanics non-invasively.
- To evaluate the system's potential for early oral cancer diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Custom-built, high-speed OCE system integrating low-frequency air-driven elastic wave excitation.
- Phase-resolved optical coherence tomography (OCT) for micrometer-scale elasticity mapping.
- Pilot study on human buccal mucosa (healthy, cancerous, leukoplakia).
Main Results:
- Distinct biomechanical contrasts were observed between healthy, cancerous, and leukoplakia tissues.
- Cancerous tissues showed significantly increased stiffness (9.51 ± 0.95 Pa) compared to healthy tissues (2.72 ± 0.27 Pa).
- Elastograms visualized tissue microstructural changes associated with pathology.
Conclusions:
- The developed OCE system provides non-contact, repeatable, and sensitive elastographic measurements.
- The system can detect subtle mechanical changes indicative of oral pathologies.
- This technology holds promise for early oral cancer diagnosis and soft tissue characterization.
