Synergistic effect of hyperosmotic agents under topical application on optical clearing of skin tissue in vitro

Recent developments in optical clearing of biological tissue have shown a great promise in enhancing the capabilities of non-invasive light-based diagnostic and imaging techniques due to the increased light penetration into tissue. This study investigates the synergistic effect of hyperosmotic agents of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and glycerol solutions on optical clearing of skin in vitro. Experimental results from near infrared spectroscopy, direct imaging assessment and mass loss measurement showed that the mixed solutions of DMSO and glycerol caused better clearing effects than that of any single solution alone. In addition, the different clearing effects were observed when skin tissue was treated by different volume-mixing of DMSO and glycerol solutions. The results presented revealed that the DMSO is responsible for the synergistic effect on optical clearing due to its carrier effect and strong penetration capability.