Phase Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography Image of Guided Elastic Wave Propagation in a Tissue Mimicking Phantom
Mechanical properties of soft materials are critical to regulating the functional behavior of biological structures. In our research group, we are exploring the optical coherence elastography technique to study the propagation of elastic waves in biological structures like environmental biofilms, with the ultimate goal of understanding the relationship between the three-dimensional morphology and viscoelastic properties. We rely on model-based analysis of the wave speed, dispersion, attenuation, and scattering dependence on the internal morphology and elastic properties for mechanical characterization in a non-invasive and nondestructive fashion. We hope to extend our modeling efforts and adapt the OCE technique to apply these tools broadly across other soft materials for biomechanics and cell mechanics studies.