Research Techniques Made Simple: Optical Clearing and Three-Dimensional Volumetric Imaging of Skin Biopsies
June 2020
in “
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
”
three-dimensional volumetric imaging skin histology hair follicles sebaceous glands optical clearing solvent-based approaches aqueous-based approaches fixation permeabilization immunostaining light-sheet fluorescence microscope two-photon microscope melanin 3D imaging skin biopsy oil glands solvent-based methods water-based methods light-sheet microscope
TLDR 3D imaging of skin biopsies offers better accuracy but is time-consuming and can't clear melanin.
The document reviewed advancements in optical clearing and three-dimensional (3D) volumetric imaging techniques for skin biopsies, which improved visualization of skin structures like nerves, vasculature, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands. It discussed various clearing methods, including solvent-based and aqueous-based techniques, and highlighted the importance of tissue preparation steps such as fixation, permeabilization, and refractive index matching. Despite the benefits of enhanced spatial mapping and potential applications in studying skin diseases, the process remained time-consuming and labor-intensive. Challenges included imaging pigmented skin and achieving the right concentration of clearing agents to avoid issues like necrosis. The development of a 3D healthy skin atlas was envisioned to aid in the study of skin diseases and the application of deep learning techniques for pathological analysis.
