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Abstract
This thesis demonstrates how optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be used to quantitatively characterize engineered collagen gels containing smooth muscle cells. By fitting OCT depth‑dependent signals to a theoretical model, the scattering coefficient (μs) and anisotropy factor (g) were extracted to assess changes in scattering particle density and size. Over five days, collagen gels exhibited a ten‑fold increase in reflectivity without changes in attenuation, indicating decreased anisotropy and increased backscatter. Follow‑up experiments showed that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity from embedded smooth muscle cells degraded collagen fibrils into smaller, more isotropic scatterers. These results demonstrate that OCT can noninvasively visualize and quantify MMP‑driven matrix remodeling in collagen gels.