title: Nanoscale refractive index fluctuations detected via sparse spectral microscopy.
abstract: Partial Wave Spectroscopic (PWS) Microscopy has proven effective at detecting nanoscale hallmarks of carcinogenesis in histologically normal-appearing cells. The current method of data analysis requires acquisition of a three-dimensional data cube, consisting of multiple images taken at different illumination wavelengths, limiting the technique to data acquisition on ~30 individual cells per slide. To enable high throughput data acquisition and whole-slide imaging, new analysis procedures were developed that require fewer wavelengths in the same 500-700nm range for spectral analysis. The nanoscale sensitivity of the new analysis techniques was validated (i) theoretically, using finite-difference time-domain solutions of Maxwell's equations, as well as (ii) experimentally, by measuring nanostructural alterations associated with carcinogenesis in biological cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, USA.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Lusik
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cherkezyan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Hariharan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Subramanian
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Vadim
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Backman
keywords: (110.4234) Multispectral and hyperspectral imaging; (170.0110) Imaging systems; (170.0170) Medical optics and biotechnology; (170.1610) Clinical applications; (170.4580) Optical diagnostics for medicine; (170.6510) Spectroscopy, tissue diagnostics