Spectral imaging technology of epithelial tissue based on two-photon excited fluorescence and second-harmonic generation

The layer structures of the esophageal and oral tissues were investigated by using spectral imaging technology based on two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and second-harmonic generation (SHG). Because spectral imaging technology allows a simultaneous record of both the spectra and image, it is capable of identifying the layered structures of the epithelial tissues, including the keratinizing layer, epithelial cell layer and stromal layer in the molecular level, which are strongly correlated to tissue pathology. All this work indicates that this technique has the potential to provide more accurate and comprehensive information for the early pathological diagnosis of tissues with the stratified squamous epithelia.