Phase-sensitive, angle-resolved light-scattering microscopy of single cells

Opt Lett. 2020 Dec 15;45(24):6775-6778. doi: 10.1364/OL.409345.

Abstract

We report what is to our knowledge the first use of Fourier phase microscopy (FPM) to estimate diameters of individual single-micrometer beads and to classify cells based upon changes in scatterer size distribution. FPM, a quantitative phase imaging (QPI) method, combines the planar illumination typically used in off-axis QPI (ideal for Mie theory analysis) with the common-path geometry typically used in on-axis QPI (ideal for optimizing angular scattering range). Low-spatial-frequency imaging artifacts inherent to FPM have negligible impact upon these angular-domain applications. The system is simple to align and stable, and requires no external reference beam. Angular scattering patterns obtained from single 1 µm polystyrene beads in glycerol (Δn=0.11) display unprecedented fidelity to Mie theory, produce diameter estimates consistent with the manufacturer's specifications, and offer precision on the scale of tens of nanometers. Measurements of macrophages at different stages of antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis demonstrate the ability to detect changes in a cell's scattering caused by the presence of phagocytosed material within.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Equipment Design
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Light
  • Macrophages / cytology*
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microscopy, Phase-Contrast / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Phase-Contrast / methods
  • Phagocytosis / physiology
  • Polystyrenes
  • Scattering, Radiation*
  • Thymocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Polystyrenes