Dr. Yang Liu Profile

Dr. Yang Liu

Professor at Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology

SPIE Involvement:

Conference Chair | Editor | Author

Publications (32)

SPIE Journal Paper | 26 March 2024 Open Access

Perspective on quantitative phase imaging to improve precision cancer medicine

Yang Liu, Shikhar Uttam

JBO, Vol. 29, Issue S2, S22705, (March 2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.JBO.29.S2.S22705

KEYWORDS: Cancer, Refractive index, Reflection, Biological samples, Tissues, Phase imaging, Tumors, 3D image processing, Medicine, Oncology

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SignificanceQuantitative phase imaging (QPI) offers a label-free approach to non-invasively characterize cellular processes by exploiting their refractive index based intrinsic contrast. QPI captures this contrast by translating refractive index associated phase shifts into intensity-based quantifiable data with nanoscale sensitivity. It holds significant potential for advancing precision cancer medicine by providing quantitative characterization of the biophysical properties of cells and tissue in their natural states.AimThis perspective aims to discuss the potential of QPI to increase our understanding of cancer development and its response to therapeutics. It also explores new developments in QPI methods towards advancing personalized cancer therapy and early detection.ApproachWe begin by detailing the technical advancements of QPI, examining its implementations across transmission and reflection geometries and phase retrieval methods, both interferometric and non-interferometric. The focus then shifts to QPI’s applications in cancer research, including dynamic cell mass imaging for drug response assessment, cancer risk stratification, and in-vivo tissue imaging.ResultsQPI has emerged as a crucial tool in precision cancer medicine, offering insights into tumor biology and treatment efficacy. Its sensitivity to detecting nanoscale changes holds promise for enhancing cancer diagnostics, risk assessment, and prognostication. The future of QPI is envisioned in its integration with artificial intelligence, morpho-dynamics, and spatial biology, broadening its impact in cancer research.ConclusionsQPI presents significant potential in advancing precision cancer medicine and redefining our approach to cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. Future directions include harnessing high-throughput dynamic imaging, 3D QPI for realistic tumor models, and combining artificial intelligence with multi-omics data to extend QPI’s capabilities. As a result, QPI stands at the forefront of cancer research and clinical application in cancer care.

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Proceedings Article | 13 March 2024 Presentation

A cross-scale multimodal imaging platform for information-rich quantitative spatial biology

Yang Liu, Hongqiang Ma, Maomao Chen, Jianquan Xu

Proceedings Volume PC12852, PC128520M (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3008508

KEYWORDS: Biology, Quantitative biology, Multimodal imaging, Fluorescence imaging, Astronomical imaging, Tissues, Tissue optics, Super resolution, Resistance, Profiling

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Proceedings Article | 13 March 2024 Presentation

Nanoscale nuclear architectural mapping for precision cancer prevention

Yang Liu

Proceedings Volume PC12856, PC1285603 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3005268

KEYWORDS: Cancer, Tissues, Pathology, Absorbance, Surveillance, Phase measurement, Interferometry, Esophagus

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Proceedings Article | 16 March 2023 Presentation

Memories of Gabi (Conference Presentation)

Yang Liu

Proceedings Volume PC12389, PC1238902 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2662976

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Proceedings Article | 5 March 2021 Presentation

Visualization of disrupted chromatin folding at nanoscale in early carcinogenesis via super-resolution microscopy

Yang Liu, Jianquan Xu, Hongqiang Ma

Proceedings Volume 11647, 1164715 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2579259

KEYWORDS: Super resolution microscopy, Visualization, Super resolution, Microscopy, Cancer, Tumors, Tissues, Tissue optics, Stochastic processes

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Proceedings Article | 5 March 2021 Presentation

Nanoscale nuclear architecture mapping captures chromatin reorganization in epithelial cells undergoing malignant transformation

Shikhar Uttam, Jianquan Xu, Yang Liu

Proceedings Volume 11653, 1165318 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2583147

KEYWORDS: Tumor growth modeling, Tumors, Tissues, Super resolution, Refractive index, Optical coherence tomography, Mouse models, Image analysis, Computer simulations, Computational modeling

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Proceedings Article | 5 March 2021 Open Access

Welcome and Introduction to SPIE Conference 11653

Gabriel Popescu, YongKeun Park, Yang Liu

Proceedings Volume 11653, 1165302 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2592772

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Proceedings Article | 22 July 2019 Paper

Robust online image processing for high-throughput super-resolution localization microscopy

Hongqiang Ma, Jianquan Xu, Yang Liu

Proceedings Volume 11076, 1107603 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2526541

KEYWORDS: Image processing, Super resolution, 3D image reconstruction, Microscopy, Deconvolution, Image restoration, Image resolution, Image segmentation, Lab on a chip, Super resolution microscopy

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Proceedings Article | 22 July 2019 Paper

Three-dimensional nanoscale nuclear architecture mapping for improved cancer risk stratification

Shikhar Uttam, Yang Liu

Proceedings Volume 11076, 1107611 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2526469

KEYWORDS: Cancer, Surveillance, Refractive index, Tissues, Spatial frequencies, Visualization, Biopsy

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Proceedings Article | 29 September 2017 Presentation

An ultra-fast algorithm for high-density localization microscopy (Conference Presentation)

Hongqiang Ma, Yang Liu

Proceedings Volume 10350, 103500G (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2275789

KEYWORDS: Algorithm development, Microscopy, Super resolution, Ultrafast phenomena, Temporal resolution, Mathematical modeling, Image resolution, Cameras, Numerical simulations, Parallel computing

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Proceedings Article | 24 April 2017 Presentation

Improved cancer risk stratification and diagnosis via quantitative phase microscopy (Conference Presentation)

Yang Liu, Shikhar Uttam, Hoa Pham, Douglas Hartman

Proceedings Volume 10074, 1007416 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2252276

KEYWORDS: Cell biology, Animal model studies, Cancer, Microscopy, Tissues, Pathology, Microscopes, Gold, Phase imaging, Diagnostics

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Proceedings Article | 8 March 2016 Presentation + Paper

Depth-resolved nanoscale nuclear architecture mapping for early prediction of cancer progression

Shikhar Uttam, Hoa Pham, Justin LaFace, Douglas Hartman, Yang Liu

Proceedings Volume 9697, 969728 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2214688

KEYWORDS: Cancer, Tissue optics, Refractive index, Tissues, Absorbance, Image segmentation, Mouse models, Microscopes, Interfaces, Phase contrast

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Proceedings Article | 8 March 2016 Paper

Theory of Fourier phase within the framework of Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography

Shikhar Uttam, Yang Liu

Proceedings Volume 9697, 96972S (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2214821

KEYWORDS: Optical coherence tomography, Refractive index, Interfaces, Spatial frequencies, Microscopy, Interferometry, Fourier optics, Signal processing, Statistical analysis, Numerical simulations, Scattering, Fourier transforms, Correlation function

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Proceedings Article | 1 March 2016 Presentation + Paper

Fast and precise 3D fluorophore localization by gradient fitting

Hongqiang Ma, Jianquan Xu, Jingyi Jin, Ying Gao, Li Lan, Yang Liu

Proceedings Volume 9714, 97140G (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2211731

KEYWORDS: 3D image processing, Microscopy, Detection and tracking algorithms, Super resolution, Algorithm development, Point spread functions, Imaging spectroscopy, Super resolution microscopy, Monochromatic aberrations, 3D image reconstruction, Reconstruction algorithms, Calibration, Molecules, Computer simulations

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SPIE Journal Paper | 4 June 2012 Open Access

Investigation of nuclear nano-morphology marker as a biomarker for cancer risk assessment using a mouse model

Rajan Bista, Shikhar Uttam, Douglas Hartman, Wei Qiu, Jian Yu, Lin Zhang, Randall Brand, Yang Liu

JBO, Vol. 17, Issue 06, 066014, (June 2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.JBO.17.6.066014

KEYWORDS: Cancer, Tumors, Intestine, Mouse models, Statistical analysis, Oncology, Animal model studies, Microscopy, Tissues, Medicine

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The development of accurate and clinically applicable tools to assess cancer risk is essential to define candidates to undergo screening for early-stage cancers at a curable stage or provide a novel method to monitor chemoprevention treatments. With the use of our recently developed optical technology—spatial-domain low-coherence quantitative phase microscopy (SL-QPM), we have derived a novel optical biomarker characterized by structure-derived optical path length (OPL) properties from the cell nucleus on the standard histology and cytology specimens, which quantifies the nano-structural alterations within the cell nucleus at the nanoscale sensitivity, referred to as nano-morphology marker. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of the nuclear nano-morphology marker from histologically normal cells, extracted directly from the standard histology specimens, to detect early-stage carcinogenesis, assess cancer risk, and monitor the effect of chemopreventive treatment. We used a well-established mouse model of spontaneous carcinogenesis—ApcMin mice, which develop multiple intestinal adenomas (Min) due to a germline mutation in the adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) gene. We found that the nuclear nano-morphology marker quantified by OPL detects the development of carcinogenesis from histologically normal intestinal epithelial cells, even at an early pre-adenomatous stage (six weeks). It also exhibits a good temporal correlation with the small intestine that parallels the development of carcinogenesis and cancer risk. To further assess its ability to monitor the efficacy of chemopreventive agents, we used an established chemopreventive agent, sulindac. The nuclear nano-morphology marker is reversed toward normal after a prolonged treatment. Therefore, our proof-of-concept study establishes the feasibility of the SL-QPM derived nuclear nano-morphology marker OPL as a promising, simple and clinically applicable biomarker for cancer risk assessment and evaluation of chemopreventive treatment.

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Proceedings Article | 9 February 2012 Paper

Assessing human skin with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and colorimetry

InSeok Seo, Yang Liu, Paulo Bargo, Nikiforos Kollias

Proceedings Volume 8207, 82070P (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.910206

KEYWORDS: Skin, Colorimetry, Chromophores, Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Visualization, Eye, Reflectivity, Roads, Human subjects, Color vision

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SPIE Journal Paper | 1 November 2011 Open Access

Correction of stain variations in nuclear refractive index of clinical histology specimens

Shikhar Uttam, Rajan Bista, Yang Liu, Douglas Hartman, Randall Brand

JBO, Vol. 16, Issue 11, 116013, (November 2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.3650306

KEYWORDS: Refractive index, Tissues, Absorption, Pathology, Cancer, Animal model studies, Breast, Statistical modeling, Microscopy, Intestine

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SPIE Journal Paper | 1 July 2011 Open Access

Quantification of nanoscale nuclear refractive index changes during the cell cycle

Rajan Bista, Shikhar Uttam, Pin Wang, Kevin Staton, Randall Brand, Yang Liu, Serah Choi, Christopher Bakkenist, Douglas Hartman

JBO, Vol. 16, Issue 07, 070503, (July 2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.3597723

KEYWORDS: Refractive index, Cancer, Microscopy, Flow cytometry, Medicine, Confocal microscopy, Diagnostics, Luminescence, Statistical analysis, Scattering

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Proceedings Article | 12 February 2011 Paper

Nanoscale nuclear architecture for cancer diagnosis by spatial-domain low-coherence quantitative phase microscopy

Pin Wang, Rajan Bista, Walid Khalbuss, Wei Qiu, Kevin Staton, Lin Zhang, Teresa Brentnall, Randall Brand, Yang Liu

Proceedings Volume 7907, 790704 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.874693

KEYWORDS: Cancer, Colorectal cancer, Cell biology, Microscopy, Diagnostics, Tumors, Animal model studies, Statistical analysis, Tissues, Signal detection

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Proceedings Article | 12 February 2011 Paper

Spatial-domain low-coherence quantitative phase microscopy for cancer diagnosis

Pin Wang, Rajan Bista, Rohit Bhargava, Randall Brand, Yang Liu

Proceedings Volume 7889, 78891Q (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.873620

KEYWORDS: Cancer, Refractive index, Microscopy, Tissues, Scattering, Light sources, Signal detection, Light scattering, Breast cancer, Phase measurement

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SPIE Journal Paper | 1 November 2010 Open Access

Nanoscale nuclear architecture for cancer diagnosis beyond pathology via spatial-domain low-coherence quantitative phase microscopy

Pin Wang, Rajan Bista, Walid Khalbuss, Wei Qiu, Shikhar Uttam, Kevin Staton, Lin Zhang, Teresa Brentnall, Randall Brand, Yang Liu

JBO, Vol. 15, Issue 06, 066028, (November 2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.3523618

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Proceedings Article | 23 February 2009 Paper

Quantitative assessment of wound-healing process as a response to laser-induced micro-injuries

Yang Liu, Paulo Bargo, Nikiforos Kollias

Proceedings Volume 7161, 71610W (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.811917

KEYWORDS: Skin, Confocal microscopy, Wound healing, Laser therapeutics, Reflectivity, Microscopes, Video microscopy, Collagen, Biopsy, Infrared radiation

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Proceedings Article | 15 February 2007 Paper

Low-coherence enhanced backscattering of light: characteristics and applications for colon cancer screening

Young Kim, Prabhakar Pradhan, Vladimir Turzhitsky, Hariharan Subramanian, Yang Liu, Ramesh Wali, Hemant Roy, Vadim Backman

Proceedings Volume 6446, 644606 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.698622

KEYWORDS: Scattering, Light scattering, Colon, Tissue optics, Tissues, Backscatter, Error control coding, Colorectal cancer, Spatial coherence, Spectroscopy

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SPIE Journal Paper | 1 July 2006 Open Access

Low-coherence enhanced backscattering: review of principles and applications for colon cancer screening

Young Kim, Yang Liu, Vladimir Turzhitsky, Hemant Roy, Ramesh Wali, Hariharan Subramanian, Prabhakar Pradhan, Vadim Backman

JBO, Vol. 11, Issue 04, 041125, (July 2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.2236292

KEYWORDS: Backscatter, Tissue optics, Tissues, Colon, Scattering, Light scattering, Spectroscopy, Spatial coherence, Colorectal cancer, Error control coding

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Proceedings Article | 3 March 2006 Paper

Modeling low-coherence enhanced backscattering (LEBS) using photon random walk model of light scattering

Hariharan Subramanian, Prabhakar Pradhan, Young Kim, Yang Liu, Vadim Backman

Proceedings Volume 6085, 608503 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.646868

KEYWORDS: Monte Carlo methods, Spatial coherence, Backscatter, Photon transport, Scattering, Light scattering, Diffusion, Light sources, Data modeling, Tissue optics

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Proceedings Article | 15 April 2005 Paper

Development of a novel bioengineered tissue model and its application in the investigation of the depth selectivity of polarization-gating

Yang Liu, Young Kim, Vadim Backman

Proceedings Volume 5695, (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.591272

KEYWORDS: Tissue optics, Polarization, Tissues, Connective tissue, Optical properties, Light scattering, Scattering, Geometrical optics, Collagen, Photons

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Proceedings Article | 13 April 2005 Paper

Depth-resolved low-coherent backscattering spectroscopy

Young Kim, Yang Liu, Vladimir Turzhitsky, Ramesh Wali, Hemant Roy, Vadim Backman

Proceedings Volume 5690, (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.591314

KEYWORDS: Tissues, Tissue optics, Spectroscopy, Backscatter, Scattering, Colon, Photons, Light scattering, Spatial coherence, Absorption

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SPIE Journal Paper | 1 March 2005 Open Access

Optimal design of structured nanospheres for ultrasharp light-scattering resonances as molecular imaging multilabels

Kun Chen, Yang Liu, Guillermo Ameer, Vadim Backman

JBO, Vol. 10, Issue 02, 024005, (March 2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.1899684

KEYWORDS: Nanoparticles, Light scattering, Molecular imaging, Silica, Gold, Silver, Tissues, Tissue optics, Multilayers, Optical spheres

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Proceedings Article | 13 July 2004 Paper

Coherent backscattering spectroscopy: a new technique for probing short transport paths in living tissues and early precancer detection

Young Kim, Yang Liu, Vladimir Turzhitsky, Ramesh Wali, Hemant Roy, Vadim Backman

Proceedings Volume 5326, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.529075

KEYWORDS: Tissues, Spectroscopy, Colon, Bragg cells, Light scattering, Absorption, Animal model studies, Backscatter, Tumor growth modeling, Scattering

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Proceedings Article | 13 July 2004 Paper

Multilayer resonant light scattering nanoshells as a novel class of nonbleaching labels for multimarker molecular imaging

Yang Liu, Kun Chen, Young Kim, Guillermo Ameer, Vadim Backman

Proceedings Volume 5326, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.529147

KEYWORDS: Nanoparticles, Light scattering, Tissues, Molecular imaging, Silica, Gold, Scattering, Silver, Optical spheres, Solids

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Proceedings Article | 1 July 2004 Paper

Light-scattering fingerprinting for characterization of smooth-muscle cell proliferation

Yang Liu, Josephine Allen, Young Kim, Vladimir Turzhitsky, Guillermo Ameer, Vadim Backman

Proceedings Volume 5319, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.529175

KEYWORDS: Light scattering, Scattering, Tissues, Polarization, Principal component analysis, Transmission electron microscopy, Light wave propagation, Mie scattering, Raman scattering, Polarizers

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Proceedings Article | 8 October 2003 Paper

Comprehensive description of light scattering by simultaneous measurement of angular, spectral, and polarization dependence for characterization of tissue macroachitecture in normal and precancerous states

Young Kim, Yang Liu, Ramesh Wali, Hemant Roy, Michael Goldberg, Alexey Kromin, Kun Chen, Vadim Backman

Proceedings Volume 5141, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.500880

KEYWORDS: Light scattering, Scattering, Tissues, Polarization, Colon, Particles, Tissue optics, Bragg cells, Tumor growth modeling, Animal model studies

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