Investigating the potential benefits of using nanoparticle contrast agents to enhance OCT images
Seyyede Sarvenaz Khatami,1 Mohammad Ali Ansari,1 Behnam Shariati B. K.1 & Valery V. Tuchin2,3; 1 Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 19839 69411, Iran; 2 Science Medical Center, Saratov State University, 83 Astrakhanskaya Str., Saratov 410012, Russia; 3 Institute of Precision Mechanics and Control, Federal Research Center “Saratov Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, 24 Rabochaya Str., Saratov 410028, Russia
Abstract
The OCT imaging technology, with its affordability, convenience of use, and excellent resolution, has drawn the interest of numerous medical imaging experts. However, a significant issue it faces is the imaging depth constraint. Numerous approaches, including different forms of optical clearing, have been proposed in studies to address this problem. Additionally, one way to address this issue that have been employed in OCT imaging for roughly two decades is the use of contrast agents deep inside the tissue with the goal of enhancing the reflected light from the tissue and improving the quality of OCT images. Despite some limitation of nanoparticles such as toxicity, because of their substantial refractive index difference from the background tissue, the nanoparticles utilized for this purpose are injected deep into the tissue, increasing the amount of backscattering that contributes to the OCT image's contrast. Various forms of nanoparticles can now be used in OCT imaging because to advancements in nanoparticle fabrication techniques. To get the greatest results, it is also essential to optimize the properties of the nanoparticles that are used. In the current work, various kinds of nanoparticles were injected into the chicken breast tissues, and OCT images were obtained at various intervals. The images contrast and nanoparticles diffusion time are compared. The lengthy duration of nanoparticle diffusion in tissues presents one of the difficulties in their application. The use of ultrasound modules in this study has accelerated the distribution of nanoparticles within the tissue, hence decreasing the time required for the contrast agent to be effective on the OCT images by about two times. Also, the OCT images contrast in the presence of nanoparticles shows an increase from 40 to 200% in different depths. The current study's findings can offer a practical way to shorten the time it takes for contrast agents to distribute throughout tissue, and by offering ideal contrast agent specifications, they can also significantly enhance the quality of OCT images that include contrast agents.
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Seyyede Sarvenaz Khatami
Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 19839 69411, Iran
Iran
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Discussion
Lomova Maria
What types of nanoparticles are best used as contrast agents - polymeric, metallic or other?
Seyyede Sarvenaz Khatami
The effectiveness of nanoparticles in OCT imaging depends on the difference in their refractive index compared to the background tissue. The greater the difference in the effective refractive index of the nanoparticle-containing region compared to other tissue regions, the greater the backward scattering. And as a result, the OCT signal will be of higher quality. The current research only refers to different forms of gold nanoparticles, but our experiences show that the contrast caused by metal nanoparticles is more than polymer nanoparticles.
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