Optical imaging of the surface profiles of biological cells and tissues with nanometer resolution

Cheng-Chung Lai; I-Jen Hsu

doi:10.1117/12.728108

18 July 2007 Optical imaging of the surface profiles of biological cells and tissues with nanometer resolution

Cheng-Chung Lai, I-Jen Hsu

Proceedings Volume 6631, Novel Optical Instrumentation for Biomedical Applications III; 66310J (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.728108
Event: European Conferences on Biomedical Optics, 2007, Munich, Germany

Abstract

We proposed and developed an optical system for imaging of the surface profiles of biological cells and tissues with nanometer resolution. The system is a low-cost system which can perform the imaging of the surface morphology in a large area and large depth range without any special preparation of the sample. The system consists of two interferometers in which one is in the configuration of a Michelson interferometer and the other is in the configuration of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The former is used for scanning of the surface profile of the sample, and the latter is used to compensate the phase shift due to the different traveling ranges of the reference mirror in successive scannings. The phase difference between the interferograms detected in both interferometers is proportional to the surface height of the sample at that point. The system was demonstrated to possess the axial resolution within ±5 nm and its lateral resolution is at the diffraction limit. We used the system for the imaging of various samples including biological cells and tissues. The system was also used for dynamic imaging to observe the morphological change of the surface of biological cells.

Citation Download Citation

Cheng-Chung Lai and I-Jen Hsu "Optical imaging of the surface profiles of biological cells and tissues with nanometer resolution", Proc. SPIE 6631, Novel Optical Instrumentation for Biomedical Applications III, 66310J (18 July 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.728108

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available