The purpose of this study was to explore the behavior of four different optically active biological fluids of various concentrations using polarimetric principles applied to optical imaging techniques. The samples used in the study were Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Amyloid mixed with a known concentration of VEGF, Insulin
Glargine and Human Insulin Isophane suspension. The optical characterization obtained from the study can be used to non-invasively detect and/ or stage certain diseases such as diabetes, diabetic retinopathy and some kinds of cancers.
The experiments were conducted with a Near Infra Red (NIR) laser source and the data was recorded using both linearly and circularly polarized experimental arrangements. The optical activity of the samples was evaluated through the Stokes parameters associated with the scattered laser beam, which were obtained from Fourier analysis of the data. The sensitivity of the system to changes in concentration was also evaluated through other polarization parameters such as the Degree of Polarization (DOP), Degree of Linear Polarization (DOLP), Degree of Circular Polarization (DOCP),
Ellipticity, Azimuth and Eccentricity, all of which were calculated from the Stokes parameters.
The experimental results from the study indicated that the optical activities of the sample biological fluids produced a significant effect on the Stokes parameters of the incident laser beam, as seen from the scattered light. Further, it was observed that the
polarimetric optical imaging system was sensitive to changes in the concentrations of the samples. Statistical analysis of the recorded data correlated the expectations of the study to the observations, thereby proving that the experiment was a success.