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Two optical coherence tomography systems detect topical gold nanoshells in hair follicles, sweat ducts and measure epidermis

Mogensen, Mette, Bojesen, Sophie, Israelsen, Niels M., Maria, Michael, Jensen, Mikkel, Podoleanu, Adrian G.H., Bang, Ole, Haedersdal, Merete (2018) Two optical coherence tomography systems detect topical gold nanoshells in hair follicles, sweat ducts and measure epidermis. Journal of Biophotonics, 11 (9). Article Number 201700348. ISSN 1864-063X. E-ISSN 1864-0648. (doi:10.1002/jbio.201700348) (KAR id:69438)

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an established imaging technology for in vivo skin investigation. Topical application of gold nanoshells (GNS) provides contrast enhancement in OCT by generating a strong hyperreflective signal from hair follicles and sweat glands, which are the natural skin openings. This study explores the utility of 150 nm diameter GNS as contrast agent for OCT imaging. GNS was massaged into skin and examined in four skin areas of 11 healthy volunteers. A commercial OCT system and a prototype with 3 ?m resolution (UHR?OCT) were employed to detect potential benefits of increased resolution and variability in intensity generated by the GNS. In both OCT?systems GNS enhanced contrast from hair follicles and sweat ducts. Highest average penetration depth of GNS was in armpit 0.64 mm ± SD 0.17, maximum penetration depth was 1.20 mm in hair follicles and 15 to 40 ?m in sweat ducts. Pixel intensity generated from GNS in hair follicles was significantly higher in UHR?OCT images (P = .002) and epidermal thickness significantly lower 0.14 vs 0.16 mm (P =?.027). This study suggests that GNSs are interesting candidates for increasing sensitivity in OCT diagnosis of hair and sweat gland disorders and demonstrates that choice of OCT systems influences results.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1002/jbio.201700348
Uncontrolled keywords: Au; contrast agent; contrast enhancement; epidermal thickness; hair follicle; nanoshell; optical coherence tomography; sweat duct
Subjects: Q Science > QC Physics > QC355 Optics
T Technology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User: Adrian Podoleanu
Date Deposited: 08 Oct 2018 14:19 UTC
Last Modified: 08 Dec 2022 23:10 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/69438 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Podoleanu, Adrian G.H..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4899-9656
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