Label-free characterization of white blood cells by measuring 3D refractive index maps.
The characterization of white blood cells (WBCs) is crucial for blood analyses and disease diagnoses. However, current standard techniques rely on cell labeling, a process which imposes significant limitations. Here we present three-dimensional (3D) optical measurements and the label-free characterization of mouse WBCs using optical diffraction tomography. 3D refractive index (RI) tomograms of individual WBCs are constructed from multiple two-dimensional quantitative phase images of samples illuminated at various angles of incidence. Measurements of the 3D RI tomogram of WBCs enable the separation of heterogeneous populations of WBCs using quantitative morphological and biochemical information. Time-lapse tomographic measurements also provide the 3D trajectory of micrometer-sized beads ingested by WBCs. These results demonstrate that optical diffraction tomography can be a useful and versatile tool for the study of WBCs.
Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-701, South Korea.
Jonghee
J
Yoon
Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-701, South Korea.
Kyoohyun
K
Kim
Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-701, South Korea.
HyunJoo
H
Park
Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-701, South Korea.
Chulhee
C
Choi
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul 138-736, South Korea.
Seongsoo
S
Jang
Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-701, South Korea.
YongKeun
Y
Park
(170.1530) Cell analysis; (180.3170) Interference microscopy; (180.6900) Three-dimensional microscopy