Refractive index of biological tissues: Review, measurement techniques, and applications

Rana Khan; Banat Gul; Shamim Khan; Hasan Nisar; Iftikhar Ahmad

doi:10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102192

Refractive index of biological tissues: Review, measurement techniques, and applications

Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2021 Mar:33:102192. doi: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102192. Epub 2021 Jan 27.

Authors

Rana Khan¹, Banat Gul², Shamim Khan¹, Hasan Nisar³, Iftikhar Ahmad⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physics, Islamia College Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
² Department of Basic Sciences, Military College of Engineering, National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan.
³ Radiation Biology Depatment, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany.
⁴ Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (IRNUM), Peshawar, Pakistan. Electronic address: iahmadmp@gmail.com.

PMID: 33508501
DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102192

Abstract

Refractive index (RI) is a characteristic optical variable that controls the propagation of light in the medium (e.g., biological tissues). Basic research with the aim to investigate the RI of biological tissues is of paramount importance for biomedical optics and associated applications. Herein, we reviewed and summarized the RI data of biological tissues and the associated insights. Different techniques for the measurement of RI of biological tissues are also discussed. Moreover, several examples of the RI applications from basic research, clinics and optics industry are outlined. This study may provide a comprehensive reference for RI data of biological tissues for the biomedical research and beyond.

Keywords: Interferometry; Refractive Index; chromophores; electric polarizability; scattering; total internal reflection.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Photochemotherapy* / methods
Photosensitizing Agents
Refractometry*

Substances

Photosensitizing Agents