RGB analysis in optical clearing of muscle tissue
Yakov Razumov1, Isabella A. Serebryakova1, Valery V. Tuchin1, 2, 3
1Saratov State University, Saratov, Russia
2Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
3Institute of Precision Mechanics and Control RAS, Saratov, Russia
Abstract
Optical imaging of biological tissues relies on the use of light capable of penetrating deeper tissue layers, opening broad opportunities for non-invasive diagnostics. One promising approach is optical clearing—a process that reduces light scattering in tissues by equalizing the refractive indices of intracellular and extracellular structures. This significantly enhances the effectiveness of various medical imaging techniques such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), spectroscopy, speckle imaging, and other methods widely used in clinical diagnostics.[1-3]
In this study, the phenomenon of optical clearing was investigated using chicken muscle tissue samples and RGB analysis—a method based on quantitative assessment of changes in color components (red, green, blue) in digital images. Images were captured using a smartphone camera before and after tissue treatment with glycerol solution, selected as the optical clearing agent. The experiment was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions: tissue samples were placed under uniform illumination, and the smartphone was mounted on a tripod to ensure consistent imaging parameters. As a result of glycerol application, tissue light transmission increased by an average of 18%, confirmed by measurable changes in RGB component intensities. A slight tissue deformation due to dehydration was also observed.
The obtained results demonstrate the potential of RGB analysis as a simple and accessible tool for evaluating optical clearing efficiency. This approach can be adapted for studying other tissue types, which is particularly relevant for developing non-invasive diagnostic methods for various diseases.
This study was supported by the grant from the Russian Sciece Foundation № 23-14-00287
[1] Shariati BK, B., Ansari, M. A., Khatami, S. S., Tuchin, V. V. (2023). Multimodal optical clearing to minimize light attenuation in biological tissues. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 21509.
[2] Wu, C., Zhou, M., Li, J., Kou, T., Jing, W., Zhang, Q., Shen, J. (2025). Multimodal fusion with hyperspectral images and RGB information for all-optical informed virtual staining. Optics Express, 33(9), 19820-19836.
[3] Surya, N., Raj, P., Singh, K., Datta, R. (2024). Image analysis in laryngopharyngeal reflux disease: A road less traveled. Medical Journal Armed Forces India, 80(5), 516-521.
Speaker
Razumov Yakov
Saratov State University
Russia
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