POHANG, North Gyeongsang Province -- A group of South Korean scientists have developed an optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy, called OR-PAM, to observe the process of cancer treatment.

The team led by Kim Chul-hong of the Pohang University of Science and Technology used the OR-PAM system to evaluate the effectiveness of solid tumor drugs in the vascular system.

The feasibility of photoacoustic microscopy has been the subject of many researchers in recent years as it can observe microvascular complications. Tumor-affected microvascular complications have abnormal shapes, and their blood has very low oxygen concentration.

The researchers were able to obtain high-resolution images using OR-PAM to observe the recovery process of mice with brain tumors being treated with the tumor drug.

"This research has led to a new method to observe the process of high-reliable treatment," Kim said, adding that the technology will greatly help develop new cancer drugs.

The research was funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the findings were published in the Journal of Biophotonics. (Yonhap)