Shuting Fan

The potential of terahertz imaging for cancer diagnosis: A review of investigations to date.

The terahertz region lies between the microwave and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum such that it is strongly attenuated by water and very sensitive to water content. Terahertz radiation has very low photon energy and thus it does not pose any ionization hazard for biological tissues. Because of these characteristic properties, there has been an increasing interest in terahertz imaging and spectroscopy for biological applications within the last few years and more and more terahertz spectra are being reported, including spectroscopic studies of cancer. The presence of cancer often causes increased blood supply to affected tissues and a local increase in tissue water content may be observed: this acts as a natural contrast mechanism for terahertz imaging of cancer. Furthermore the structural changes that occur in affected tissues have also been shown to contribute to terahertz image contrast. This paper introduces terahertz technology and provides a short review of recent advances in terahertz imaging and spectroscopy techniques. In particular investigations relating to the potential of terahertz imaging and spectroscopy for cancer diagnosis will be highlighted.

The growth of biomedical terahertz research

Interest in biomedical terahertz research is growing rapidly and there are now several terahertz groups in Asia, Europe and the US investigating potential applications such as pharmaceutical quality control, protein characterization and cancer detection. This review article outlines the technological bottlenecks that have been overcome which have made biomedical terahertz research possible. Key research findings will be presented, and the limitations that remain and the research initiatives that strive to address them will also be discussed.

Calibration method to improve the accuracy of THz imaging and spectroscopy in reflection geometry

We introduce a novel method to accurately extract the optical parameters in terahertz reflection imaging. Our method builds on standard self-referencing methods using the reflected signal from the bottom of the imaging window material to further compensate for time-dependent system fluctuations and position-dependent variation in the window thickness. Our proposed method not only improves the accuracy, but also simplifies the imaging procedure and reduces measurement times.

Gelatin embedding: a novel way to preserve biological samples for terahertz imaging and spectroscopy

Sample dehydration has traditionally been a challenging problem in ex vivo terahertz biomedical experiments as water content changes significantly affect the terahertz properties and can diminish important contrast features. In this paper, we propose a novel method to prevent sample dehydration using gelatin embedding. By looking at terahertz image data and calculating the optical properties of the gelatin-embedded sample, we find that our method successfully preserves the sample for at least 35 h, both for imaging and spectroscopy. Our novel preservation method demonstrates for the first time the capability to simultaneously maintain sample structural integrity and prevent dehydration at room temperature. This is particularly relevant for terahertz studies of freshly excised tissues but could be beneficial for other imaging and spectroscopy techniques.

Ultrathin tunable terahertz absorber based on MEMS-driven metamaterial

The realization of high-performance tunable absorbers for terahertz frequencies is crucial for advancing applications such as single-pixel imaging and spectroscopy. Based on the strong position sensitivity of metamaterials’ electromagnetic response, we combine meta-atoms that support strongly localized modes with suspended flat membranes that can be driven electrostatically. This design maximizes the tunability range for small mechanical displacements of the membranes. We employ a micro-electro-mechanical system technology and successfully fabricate the devices. Our prototype devices are among the best-performing tunable THz absorbers demonstrated to date, with an ultrathin device thickness (~1/50 of the working wavelength), absorption varying between 60% and 80% in the initial state when the membranes remain suspended, and fast switching speed (~27 μs). The absorption is tuned by an applied voltage, with the most marked results achieved when the structure reaches the snap-down state. In this case, the resonance shifts by >200% of the linewidth (14% of the initial resonance frequency), and the absolute absorption modulation measured at the initial resonance can reach 65%. The demonstrated approach can be further optimized and extended to benefit numerous applications in THz technology.

Recent advances in terahertz technology for biomedical applications

Terahertz instrumentation has improved significantly in recent years such that THz imaging systems have become more affordable and easier to use. THz systems can now be operated by non-THz experts greatly facilitating research into many potential applications. Due to the non-ionising nature of THz light and its high sensitivity to soft tissues, there is an increasing interest in biomedical applications including both in vivo and ex vivo studies. Additionally, research continues into understanding the origin of contrast and how to interpret terahertz biomedical images. This short review highlights some of the recent work in these areas and suggests some future research directions.

Terahertz biomedical research: Preparing for a successful experiment

Interest in bio terahertz research has recently been increasing worldwide. Major topics include cancer diagnosis, skin studies, tissue characterization and protein dynamics. Although terahertz technology has great potential in the biomedical and biological research fields, several obstacles have to be overcome before it can be used commercially and clinically. This paper talks about the current state of bio terahertz research around the world and troubleshoots the major difficulties when preparing for terahertz bio related experiments. Recent results from our group will also be presented.