Optical low-coherence ref lectometry is applied for the first time to our knowledge to investigate diffusive biological tissues with a single-mode fiber probe. Samples of fresh arteries are studied, using the backscattered light from the tissue. The probed volume in the vicinity of the fiber tip is estimated to be below 6.7 x 10(-10) cm(3). This noninvasive method allows one to determine optical parameters, such as the index of refraction and the transmission properties, and the tissue thickness.

No abstract

No abstract

A scanning tunneling microscope (STM) coupled with a high resolution reflective optical microscope has been developed to investigate some aspects of the interface between metallic biomedical implants and living tissue. Initial biological measurements show that fibronectin (Fn), a glycoprotein which plays an important role in the promotion of cell and bacterial attachment, is well adsorbed on Ti and V substrates, but is not biologically active on V. STM images of the Ti oxide layer and of single and multiple Fn molecules deposited on mica and shadowed with a conductive layer are presented. These images demonstrate the capability of the STM for studying clinical implant surfaces with roughness larger than 1 μm as well as interface biochemical processes at the molecular level.

No abstract