title: Evanescent-wave fluorescence microscopy using symmetric planar waveguides.
abstract: We describe a new evanescent-wave fluorescence excitation method, ideally suited for imaging of biological samples. The excitation light propagates in a planar optical waveguide, consisting of a thin waveguide core sandwiched between a sample in an aqueous solution and a polymer with a matching refractive index, forming a symmetric cladding environment. This configuration offers clear advantages over other waveguide-excitation methods, such as superior image quality, wide tunability of the evanescent field penetration depth and compatibility with optical fibers. The method is well suited for cell membrane imaging on cells in culture, including cell-cell and cell-matrix interaction, monitoring of surface binding events and similar applications involving aqueous solutions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Science Institute, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Agnarsson
authors.forename: Saevar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ingthorsson
authors.forename: Thorarinn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gudjonsson
authors.forename: Kristjan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leosson