About this Research Topic
Diffusive optical imaging technique (DOT) is a rapidly evolving field that aims to exploit the interaction of near-infrared light with biological tissues to reveal their optical and physiological properties. This Research Topic intends to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art and future directions of diffusive optics for medical imaging, covering both theoretical and experimental aspects, as well as clinical applications.
Diffusive optics is based on the principle that light is scattered and absorbed by tissue chromophores, such as hemoglobin, water, and lipids, and that these effects can be measured and quantified by various techniques. One of the emerging applications of diffusive optics is molecular imaging, which uses biomarkers or fluorescence fluorophore as contrast agents to target specific molecular pathways and biomarkers that are relevant to diseases or biological functions. Some of the advantages of diffusive optics include its non-invasiveness, low cost, portability, and safety. Some of the challenges include the high degree of light scattering, the ill-posedness of the inverse problem, and the limited spatial resolution and penetration depth.
The scope of this Research Topic is to present the latest developments and innovations of diffusive optics applications in medical imaging, with a focus on the following themes:
• Structured light strategies, such as spatial frequency-domain imaging, tomography, and single-pixel imaging, which aim to control light propagation and enhance contrast and resolution.
• Temporal modulation techniques, such as time-resolved, frequency-domain, and phase-modulated imaging, which exploit the temporal dynamics of light diffusion and enable the extraction of absolute optical parameters and chromophore concentrations.
• Molecular imaging approaches, such as fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging, which use exogenous or endogenous contrast agents to target specific molecular pathways and biomarkers.
• Clinical applications, such as breast cancer detection, brain function monitoring, wound healing assessment, and tissue oxygenation measurement, which demonstrate the potential and limitations of diffusive optics in various medical scenarios.
Diffusive optics is based on the principle that light is scattered and absorbed by tissue chromophores, such as hemoglobin, water, and lipids, and that these effects can be measured and quantified by various techniques. One of the emerging applications of diffusive optics is molecular imaging, which uses biomarkers or fluorescence fluorophore as contrast agents to target specific molecular pathways and biomarkers that are relevant to diseases or biological functions. Some of the advantages of diffusive optics include its non-invasiveness, low cost, portability, and safety. Some of the challenges include the high degree of light scattering, the ill-posedness of the inverse problem, and the limited spatial resolution and penetration depth.
The scope of this Research Topic is to present the latest developments and innovations of diffusive optics applications in medical imaging, with a focus on the following themes:
• Structured light strategies, such as spatial frequency-domain imaging, tomography, and single-pixel imaging, which aim to control light propagation and enhance contrast and resolution.
• Temporal modulation techniques, such as time-resolved, frequency-domain, and phase-modulated imaging, which exploit the temporal dynamics of light diffusion and enable the extraction of absolute optical parameters and chromophore concentrations.
• Molecular imaging approaches, such as fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging, which use exogenous or endogenous contrast agents to target specific molecular pathways and biomarkers.
• Clinical applications, such as breast cancer detection, brain function monitoring, wound healing assessment, and tissue oxygenation measurement, which demonstrate the potential and limitations of diffusive optics in various medical scenarios.
Keywords: Diffusive Optical Imaging Technique (DOT), Near-infrared Light Interaction, Molecular Imaging, Temporal Modulation Techniques, Clinical Applications
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
