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From molecular structure to tissue architecture: collagen organization probed by SHG microscopy
Author(s) -
Cicchi Riccardo,
Vogler Nadine,
Kapsokalyvas Dimitrios,
Dietzek Benjamin,
Popp Jürgen,
Pavone Francesco Saverio
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of biophotonics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.877
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1864-0648
pISSN - 1864-063X
DOI - 10.1002/jbio.201200092
Subject(s) - second harmonic generation , microscopy , nanotechnology , second harmonic imaging microscopy , nanoscopic scale , materials science , atomic force microscopy , biomedical engineering , computer science , optics , laser , physics , medicine
Second‐harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy is a fantastic tool for imaging collagen and probing its hierarchical organization from molecular scale up to tissue architectural level. In fact, SHG combines the advantages of a non‐linear microscopy approach with a coherent modality able to probe molecular organization. In this manuscript we review the physical concepts describing SHG from collagen, highlighting how this optical process allows to probe structures ranging from molecular sizes to tissue architecture, through image pattern analysis and scoring methods. Starting from the description of the most relevant approaches employing SHG polarization anisotropy and forward – backward SHG detection, we then focus on the most relevant methods for imaging and characterizing collagen organization in tissues through image pattern analysis methods, highlighting advantages and limitations of the methods applied to tissue imaging and to potential clinical applications. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)