Photothermal time-resolved imaging of living cells.
OBJECTIVE
Thermal effects of laser radiation at cell level play very important role in cell functioning and in many laser applications. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new method of photothermal imaging (PTI) for monitoring short-time nano-scale thermal effects in individual living cells.


METHODS
PTI is based on the irradiation of a cell with a short laser pump pulse (8 nanoseconds, 532 nm) and on registration of the laser-induced local thermal effects using time-resolved phase-contrast imaging with a pulsed probe laser.


RESULTS
PT images of lymphocytes, lympholeukemia cells in vitro were obtained at different laser energies. PTI in time-resolved mode allowed visualizing the structures with size less than diffraction limit (90-nm liposomes). The photodamage process was visualized for a single human leukocyte in suspension.


CONCLUSIONS
PTI in non-invasive mode offered better contrast of living cell image than conventional optical phase-contrast microscopy. The data obtained showed that PTI is in perspective for studies of live non-fluorescent cells.
Luikov Heat and Mass Transfer Institute, 15 Brovka Street, Minsk, 220072, Belarus. ld@hmti.ac.by
Dmitri O
DO
Lapotko
Tat'yana R
TR
Romanovskaya
Alexander
A
Shnip
Vladimir P
VP
Zharov
D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008081:Liposomes; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D008081:Liposomes