In vivo multiphoton tomography of skin during wound healing and sear formation

Multiphoton tomography based on femtosecond laser NIR (near infrared) pulses was used to perform non-invasive optical sectioning of skin with high spatial and intracellular resolution. Scar formation due to formation of collagen fibers is an important aspect during wound healing processes in skin and tissues and was monitored in vivo using the system DermaInspect. Multiphoton tomography was performed of a dermal wound after nevi extraction. The healing process and the aggregation of collagen fibers could be long term monitored due to the autofluorescence of endogenous fluorophores and SHG of collagen. The system DermaInspect might become a high resolution diagnostic tool for dermatological diagnostics and monitoring therapeutic effects.