Quantitative polarized phase microscopy for birefringence imaging.
A novel application of quantitative phase imaging under linearly polarized light is introduced for studying unstained anisotropic live cells. The method is first validated as a technique for mapping the two-dimensional retardation distribution of a well-characterized optical fiber and is then applied to the characterization of unstained isolated cardiac cells. The experimental retardation measurements are in very good agreement with the established Brace-Köhler method, and additionally provide spatially resolved cell birefringence and phase data.
Dragomir
Nicoleta M
NM
School of Physics, The University of Melbourne, Vic 3010, Australia. dragomir@unimelb.edu.au
Goh
Xiao M
XM
Curl
Claire L
CL
Delbridge
Lea M D
LM
Roberts
Ann
A
D001718:Birefringence; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity