title: Asymmetric-detection time-stretch optical microscopy (ATOM) for ultrafast high-contrast cellular imaging in flow.
abstract: Accelerating imaging speed in optical microscopy is often realized at the expense of image contrast, image resolution, and detection sensitivity--a common predicament for advancing high-speed and high-throughput cellular imaging. We here demonstrate a new imaging approach, called asymmetric-detection time-stretch optical microscopy (ATOM), which can deliver ultrafast label-free high-contrast flow imaging with well delineated cellular morphological resolution and in-line optical image amplification to overcome the compromised imaging sensitivity at high speed. We show that ATOM can separately reveal the enhanced phase-gradient and absorption contrast in microfluidic live-cell imaging at a flow speed as high as ~10 m/s, corresponding to an imaging throughput of ~100,000 cells/sec. ATOM could thus be the enabling platform to meet the pressing need for intercalating optical microscopy in cellular assay, e.g. imaging flow cytometry--permitting high-throughput access to the morphological information of the individual cells simultaneously with a multitude of parameters obtained in the standard assay.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong [2] [3].
authors.forename: Terence T W
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong [2].
authors.forename: Andy K S
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong [2].
authors.forename: Kenneth K Y
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Matthew Y H
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Joseph D F
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Robles
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Antony C S
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Anson H L
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Edmund Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kenneth K Y
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Godfrey C F
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong [2].
authors.forename: Ho Cheung
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Shum
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kevin K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Tsia
mesh_terms: D001773:Blood Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*