Optical coherence tomography for noninvasive monitoring of drug delivery

Abstract

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has revolutionized various medical imaging and diagnostics fields, offering unprecedented insights into the microstructural compositions of biological tissues. In recent years, OCT applications have been extended to noninvasive drug delivery monitoring, which is a critical aspect of many therapeutic procedures and pharmacokinetic studies. Such an extension is strongly enhanced by the inherent combination with 3D anatomical images provided by OCT. This review presents an overview of the principles of OCT technology, its functional extensions for drug delivery systems, and its advancements in monitoring therapeutic interventions. We discuss its advantages over traditional imaging modalities in terms of spatial resolution, depth penetration, and real-time capabilities. The paper highlights significant studies that have utilized OCT for the visualization and quantification of drug delivery processes, including the diffusion of injectable formulations in ocular tissues and the permeation of topical drugs through the skin. In the review, we focused on the latest OCT applications, including OCT-guided drug injection, topical drug delivery monitoring, application of OCT in inhaled drug delivery systems, and the integration of OCT with other imaging modalities.