Anisotropic light propagation in biological tissue

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Alwin Kienle
• Subject Area: Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology
• Term: from 2013 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 233254925

The aim of the project is the comprehension of the light propagation in anisotropic biological tissue based on the interaction of light with the microstructure of the tissue. Concerning experimental investigations several methods for determination of the optical properties of tissue will be improved or newly developed. Besides goniometric measurements, collimated transmission experiments and scattering light microscopy investigations for the direct determination of the optical properties, e.g. photothermal measurements, spatially-, time- and angularly-resolved reflection and combined measurements will be applied for their indirect determination. For the theoretical description analytical and numerical solutions of Maxwell's equations, the radiative transfer equation and its approximations, e.g. the SP_N equations or the diffusion equation, shall be derived, implemented and expanded. The experimental methods are to be validated with different tissue phantoms and the theoretical solutions shall be verified with alternative methods. The obtained findings serve not only for the improvement of the therapeutical and diagnostic applications in the field of biomedical optics but are also the base for understanding the image formation for different types of light microscopy.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants