Geometry-dependent spectroscopic contrast in deep tissues

Summary Nano-structures of biological systems can produce diverse spectroscopic effects through interactions with broadband light. Although structured coloration at the surface has been extensively studied, natural spectroscopic contrasts in deep tissues are poorly understood, which may carry valuable information for evaluating the anatomy and function of biological systems. Here we investigated the spectroscopic characteristics of an important geometry in deep tissues at the nanometre scale: packed nano-cylinders, in the near-infrared window, numerically predicted and experimentally proved that transversely oriented and regularly arranged nano-cylinders could selectively backscatter light of the long wavelengths. Notably, we found the spectroscopic contrast of nanoscale fibrous structures was sensitive to the pressure load, possibly due to the changes in the orientation, the degree of alignment, and the spacing. To explore the underlying physical basis, we further developed an analytical model based on the radial distribution function in terms of their radius, refractive index and spatial distribution.