Publisher: School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering 

Date: January 11, 2024

In a groundbreaking recognition of scientific excellence, the American Optical Society has unveiled its prestigious selection of the most significant optical advancements of 2023, with a particular focus on the transformative interdisciplinary collaboration between the distinguished teams led by Guan Baoou from the School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering and Huang Wei from the renowned First Affiliated Hospital at JNU.

The highly acclaimed research achievement, titled Photoacoustic Fiberscope for Gastroenterology, emerged as a standout entry in the Optics in 2023 selection, as announced by the esteemed Optical Society of America. This cutting-edge initiative showcases the innovative prowess and collaborative synergy between the two visionary teams, spearheading a new era of optical exploration and medical diagnostics.

Annually curating a curated list of 30 global optical breakthroughs, the American Optical Society showcases these pioneering advancements in its exclusive special issue of Optics & Photonics News. The remarkable success story of JNU's collaborative teams has been prominently featured in this prestigious publication, underscoring the exceptional contributions of Associate Professor Liang Yizhi from the School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering as the lead author, alongside the esteemed Professor Guan Baoou, Professor Jin Long, and Director Huang Wei from the Endoscopy Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, who serve as co-corresponding authors. Noteworthy contributions to this groundbreaking endeavor have also been made by Associate Professor Wang Lidai from City University of Hong Kong.

The urgent global health challenges posed by gastrointestinal cancers, including gastric, esophageal, and colorectal cancers, which claim nearly one million lives annually, have underscored the critical need for innovative diagnostic tools and strategies. While conventional optical endoscopes have played a pivotal role in early cancer detection, their limitations in providing comprehensive functional information such as blood oxygen metabolism have impeded the efficacy of disease screening and differentiation.

Through a trailblazing fusion of sensor technology and optical ingenuity, the collaborative research team has engineered a revolutionary fiber optic photoacoustic endoscope technology tailored for the precise detection and diagnosis of digestive tract disorders. This groundbreaking innovation enables high-resolution visualization of the intricate vascular structure within the digestive tract at a capillary level of precision, while also offering real-time insights into aberrant changes in blood oxygen metabolism associated with pathological conditions. The compact design of the photoacoustic imaging probe holds immense promise for seamless integration with existing medical endoscopic imaging instruments, facilitating non-invasive examinations for a spectrum of gastrointestinal ailments.

With its potential to discern early cancerous transformations from benign lesions and delineate the boundaries between malignant tissues and healthy anatomical structures, this transformative technology stands as a beacon of hope in the realm of digestive tract disease management, offering invaluable clinical applications and diagnostic precision.

For a deeper dive into this groundbreaking research endeavor, readers are encouraged to explore the original paper at: [Special issue link]: Optics&Photonics News - Photoacoustic Fiberscope for Gastroenterology (optica opn. org)

Original Paper Link] (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35259-5).