Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a valuable tool for label-free imaging with micrometer resolution. However, conventional approaches to OCT typically image a sample from a single direction or angle, which limits its ability to image structures placed behind strongly attenuating material or deep inside the object. Here we introduce a solution to this problem by adding a small chamber to a spectral-domain OCT setup. Acoustic actuation enables a contact-free levitation and stepwise reorientation of samples such as zebra-fish larvae and tumor spheroids in a controlled and reproducible manner. We further developed a model-based compressive algorithm, which is able to exploit the diverse multi-angle OCT volumes for a 3D-reconstruction with isotropic resolution and estimation of refractive index values. We demonstrate and validate our approach on zebrafish larvae. We believe that our approach represents a powerful enabling tool for developmental biology and for organoid and cancer spheroid research.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) recently attracted attention for the quality control of pharmaceutical film-coatings. Current research focuses on single-layered tablet coatings with layer thicknesses between 50 and 100 μm and production end-point detection using commercial systems available for such applications. Modern multi-particulate dosage forms, particularly interesting for pediatric and personalized medicine, show coating layer thicknesses of 20 μm and below, pushing the limits of commercial pharmaceutical industrial OCT systems, which are namely their spatial and temporal resolutions. We present a novel ultra-high-resolution (UHR-) OCT prototype investigating merits and constraints of the technology based on imaging and semi-automatic layer thickness segmentation and quantification of exemplary multi-particulate dosage forms with different layer structures and layer thicknesses in a range from seven to 50 μm. The UHR-OCT system allows, for the first time, imaging of morphological features and defects within thin pharmaceutical coatings, accurate film thickness measurements and the quantitative analyses of coating layer variability. Our investigation showcases that UHR-OCT can be the next logical and necessary step to advance quality control in pharmaceutical settings.
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