Optical Coherence Tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a high-resolution, depth-resolved imaging technique that uses low-coherence interferometry and near-infrared light to generate real-time cross-sectional images of tissue. Known for its precision and label-free contrast, OCT has been widely adopted in ophthalmology, oncology, and image-guided surgery. Its ability to resolve microstructure noninvasively has expanded its use in intraoperative assessment, tissue staging, and diagnostic triage. The field continues to evolve through miniaturized systems, functional extensions, and targeted contrast strategies. Research has supported the development of real-time OCT platforms designed for surgical settings and the use of magnetically and optically active protein microspheres for enhanced imaging. These systems have been applied to tumor margin and lymph node assessment, demonstrating OCT’s potential as a tool for intraoperative diagnostics and rapid decision-making.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been a central focus of my research, enabling high-resolution, depth-resolved imaging for structural, biomechanical, and molecular characterization of tissue. My work spans the development of OCT systems, design of targeted contrast agents, and clinical translation for image-guided surgical decision-making—advancing OCT from a benchtop imaging technique to a point-of-care diagnostic tool.

System Development and Imaging Platform Engineering: To bring OCT into clinical workflows, I developed portable, real-time imaging systems with custom optics and integrated visualization tools. These platforms were optimized for high-speed data acquisition, ease of use, and intraoperative deployment, enabling clinicians to acquire high-resolution images during surgery or diagnostic procedures. By adapting OCT for handheld and cart-based operation, this work helped bridge the gap between optical imaging laboratories and the surgical suite—supporting real-time tissue assessment and procedural guidance in dynamic clinical environments. These early systems laid the technical foundation for OCT’s use in translational oncology and image-guided pathology.

Contrast Agents and Functional Imaging Capabilities: To extend OCT’s capabilities beyond structural imaging, I led efforts to develop targeted, multimodal contrast agents designed for magnetomotive OCT (MM-OCT). These microspheres integrated magnetic nanoparticles, near-infrared fluorophores, and integrin-targeting ligands to enable molecular specificity and biomechanical contrast (Cancer Research, 2010–2012). I also contributed to the use of magnetomotive optical coherence microscopy to quantify tissue viscoelastic properties, enabling biomechanical imaging at the microscale (SPIE, 2011). Building on this foundation, I led the development of nanoparticle-seeded microspheres with tunable magnetic response and signal enhancement, supporting advanced imaging and therapeutic monitoring applications (IEEE JSTQE, 2019). These functional extensions positioned OCT as a more informative modality, capable of resolving tissue architecture alongside molecular and mechanical biomarkers.

Clinical Translation and Intraoperative Application: To address critical needs in surgical oncology, I contributed to translating OCT into the operating room for real-time assessment of tumor margins and lymph node architecture. In breast-conserving surgery, OCT enabled differentiation of malignant from normal tissue using scattering intensity and microstructural features—allowing intraoperative margin assessment without destructive processing (Cancer Research, 2009; J Biomed Opt, 2010). These systems were deployed directly into surgical and pathology settings, demonstrating OCT’s potential to complement histopathology with rapid, high-resolution, and noninvasive tissue characterization.

My contributions have helped establish OCT as a versatile imaging platform that supports functional interrogation, surgical precision, and clinical decision-making at the point of care.