Biophotonics Discovery: The Podcast

In a new study, researchers have demonstrated that athree-layer tissue model significantly enhances the ability to accurately analyze cerebral hemodynamics using functional dual-slope frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy, or “eff neers”.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy has become a key toolin monitoring brain activity due to its non-invasive nature. However, signal contamination from superficial tissues, like the scalp and skull, can severely complicate the analysis, muddling the target-signals emanating from the brain.This study addresses this crucial challenge by validating a three-layer model that effectively accounts for these complications.

Read the article: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/biophotonics-discovery/volume-3/issue-02/025003/Functional-dual-slope-frequency-domain-near-infrared-spectroscopy-data-interpreted/10.1117/1.BIOS.3.2.025003.full

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have demonstrated that two key properties of human milk—specifically, fat concentration and the size distribution of milk fat globules—are critical for understanding how light scatters in this vital fluid. This discovery has the potential to enhance noninvasive methods of analyzing human milk, which can support breastfeeding efforts and address common lactation challenges faced by new mothers.

Read the article: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/biophotonics-discovery/volume-3/issue-01/012105/Influence-of-sample-specific-properties-on-light-scattering-by-human/10.1117/1.BIOS.3.1.012105.full

In an exciting advancement for women's health, researchers have developed a groundbreaking endoscope specifically designed for imaging and cell collection in the fallopian tubes, potentially paving the way for earlier detection of ovarian cancer. This innovative device could dramatically improve diagnosis rates, as early-stage ovarian cancer has a much higher survival rate compared to later stages.

Read the article: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/biophotonics-discovery/volume-3/issue-02/025001/Improved-endoscope-for-imaging-and-cell-collection-in-the-fallopian/10.1117/1.BIOS.3.2.025001.full

A groundbreaking study has revealed that the refractive index of milk fat globules in human milk is notably higher than that found in bovine milk. This finding is crucial for improving the accuracy of optical measurements used in analyzing milk composition. As human milk serves as a primary source ofnutrition for infants, understanding its physical properties is paramount. Important physical properties originate from the presence of particles like milk fat globules and extracellular vesicles.

Read the article: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/biophotonics-discovery/volume-3/issue-01/012104/Refractive-index-of-milk-fat-globules-and-extracellular-vesicles-in/10.1117/1.BIOS.3.1.012104.full

In this episode of our commercialization series, Darren and Gwen sit down with Eman Namati, the CEO of SpectraWAVE, to explore how his team moved from concept to a major acquisition by Philips in under six years. Eman shares his unique path from starting a computer business at age twelve to leading biophotonics innovation, including his decade-long tenure at NinePoint Medical. We discuss the clinical power of the HyperVue system, which combines intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) and near-infrared spectroscopy to identify high-risk vulnerable plaques in coronary arteries. Eman pulls back the curtain on the business of biotech, explaining why they chose a strategic Series B investment from Johnson & Johnson to maintain "neutral ground" before the Philips deal. He also reveals how SpectraWAVE integrated AI and noninvasive physiologic assessment to create a comprehensive diagnostic hub for the cath lab. Eman provides a masterclass in the necessity of commercialization to achieve a sustained impact on patient lives.

Recent advances in biomedical optics have introduced new approaches for examining tissue microstructure in connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS), a group of inherited disorders that affect the body’s connective tissues, particularly collagen, and can lead to joint hypermobility, fragile skin, and other systemic complications. In this work, Kseniia Tumanova, Alex Vitkin, and colleagues explored the use of Mueller matrix polarimetry, a label-free imaging technique that measures how polarized light interacts with biological tissue. By applying this method to skin biopsies from individuals with classical Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, and healthy controls, the study examined whether quantitative polarimetric features could reveal differences in collagen organization between these groups.

Read the article: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/biophotonics-discovery/volume-3/issue-01/015002/Label-free-differentiation-of-classical-and-hypermobile-EhlersDanlos-syndromes-using/10.1117/1.BIOS.3.1.015002.full

In this episode, Biophotonics Discovery Associate Editor Travis Sawyer interviews Laura Marcu, professor of biomedical engineering at the University of California, Davis, and director of the National Center for Interventional Biophotonics Technologies. Laura shares her journey from early training in engineering in Romania to becoming a leader in biophotonics in the United States, reflecting on the mentors and pivotal moments that shaped her career. She discusses her pioneering work in fluorescence lifetime imaging and its translation to clinical applications, including image-guided brain tumor surgery and cardiovascular imaging, and offers her perspective on the future of the field. Watch the full video interview online at https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/biophotonics-discovery/volume-3/issue-01/010501/Dr-Laura-Marcu-on-Serendipity-Science-and-the-Power-of/10.1117/1.BIOS.3.1.010501.full.

A novel optical technique could be the key to predicting life-threatening complications during hemodialysis, offering a noninvasive way to monitor patients’ fluid status in real time. In a recent clinical study, researchers demonstrated that broadband near-infrared spectroscopy, combined with frequency-domain measurements—as implemented in a custom-built device—can detect physiologic changes associated with adverse events, potentially transforming care in end-stage kidney disease.

Read the article: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/biophotonics-discovery/volume-3/issue-01/015003/Frequency-domain-broadband-near-infrared-spectroscopy-for-noninvasive-monitoring-of/10.1117/1.BIOS.3.1.015003.full

In a significant step toward improving the success of in vitro fertilization, researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed a new kind of embryo culture dish that dramatically enhances imaging accuracy, thanks to a clever use of material science. By matching the optical properties of the culture dish to those of the surrounding fluid, Zhao and colleagues have vastly improved the clarity with which developing embryos can be observed—crucial for selecting the healthiest embryos in IVF procedures.

Read the article: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/biophotonics-discovery/volume-3/issue-01/012103/Index-matching-improves-the-imaging-quality-of-3D-well-of/10.1117/1.BIOS.3.1.012103.full

A recent breakthrough tackles a long‑standing challenge in thyroid cancer surgery, by blending advanced optical imaging with artificial intelligence. Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer, and as detection rates continue to rise, surgeons face a delicate problem: how to remove all the cancerous tissue while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. The thyroid sits in a crowded neighborhood of nerves and glands, and distinguishing cancer from healthy tissue in real time is incredibly difficult.

Read the article: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/biophotonics-discovery/volume-3/issue-01/015001/Machine-learning-based-tumor-segmentation-and-classification-using-dynamic-optical/10.1117/1.BIOS.3.1.015001.full