title: High throughput second harmonic imaging for label-free biological applications.
abstract: Second harmonic generation (SHG) is inherently sensitive to the absence of spatial centrosymmetry, which can render it intrinsically sensitive to interfacial processes, chemical changes and electrochemical responses. Here, we seek to improve the imaging throughput of SHG microscopy by using a wide-field imaging scheme in combination with a medium-range repetition rate amplified near infrared femtosecond laser source and gated detection. The imaging throughput of this configuration is tested by measuring the optical image contrast for different image acquisition times of BaTiO₃ nanoparticles in two different wide-field setups and one commercial point-scanning configuration. We find that the second harmonic imaging throughput is improved by 2-3 orders of magnitude compared to point-scan imaging. Capitalizing on this result, we perform low fluence imaging of (parts of) living mammalian neurons in culture.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macias-Romero
authors.forename: Marie E P
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Didier
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jourdain
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marquet
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Magistretti
authors.forename: Orly B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Tarun
authors.forename: Vitalijs
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zubkovs
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radenovic
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007834:Lasers; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*