Recent Advancements in Optical Coherence Tomography

Dear Colleagues,

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) continues to revolutionize biomedical imaging, offering unprecedented resolution, depth penetration, and functional contrast across a broad range of applications. Over the past few years, advancements in light‐source technology, detection schemes, and computational methods have dramatically expanded the capabilities of OCT, thereby enabling ultrafast volumetric imaging, label‐free angiography, biomechanical mapping, and seamless integration with complementary modalities such as photoacoustics and fluorescence. At the same time, the growing intersection of OCT with machine learning and compressed sensing is opening entirely new avenues for real-time image reconstruction, automated tissue classification, and predictive diagnostics.

This Special Issue, titled “Recent Advancements in Optical Coherence Tomography”, aims to bring together cutting-edge contributions that push the boundaries of both the instrumentation and application. We invite original research articles, technical notes, reviews, and perspective pieces that address topics including, but not limited to, the following:

• Novel OCT platforms and light‐source developments (e.g., microcomb-based swept sources, supercontinuum, and extended‐depth optics).
• Functional OCT methods (angiography, Doppler flowmetry, and optical coherence elastography).
• Computational innovations (AI-driven segmentation, compressed sensing, and real-time reconstruction).
• Multimodal and hybrid systems (OCT–photoacoustic, OCT–multiphoton, and OCT–fluorescence).
• Preclinical and clinical studies highlighting OCT’s role in neuroimaging, neurooncology, ophthalmology, cardiology, and beyond.
• Emerging probes and miniaturized/endoscopic implementations for in vivo and translational research.

We especially encourage manuscripts that demonstrate how these technological breakthroughs translate into deeper biological insights or improved diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes. All submissions will undergo a thorough single-blind peer review to ensure scientific rigor and clarity.

We look forward to your contributions and to showcasing the very latest advances that will shape the future of OCT.

Dr. Pavel Nikitin
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• optical coherence tomography (OCT)
• functional OCT
• OCT angiography
• swept‐source and spectral‐domain OCT
• artificial intelligence
• multimodal imaging (e.g., OCT–photoacoustic and OCT–fluorescence)
• endoscopic and miniaturized probes