Effect of matrix properties on transmission and reflectance mode division-of-focal-plane Stokes polarimetry.

Significance: Division-of-focal-plane Stokes polarimetry is emerging as a powerful tool for the microstructural characterization of soft tissues. How individual extracellular matrix (ECM) properties influence polarimetric signals in reflectance or transmission modes of quantitative polarized light imaging (QPLI) is not well understood.

Aim: We aimed to investigate how ECM properties affect outcomes obtained from division-of-focal-plane polarimetric imaging in reflectance or transmission modes.