title: Imaging In focus: Reflected light imaging: Techniques and applications.
abstract: Reflectance imaging is a broad term that describes the formation of images by the detection of illumination light that is back-scattered from reflective features within a sample. Reflectance imaging can be performed in a variety of different configurations, such as confocal, oblique angle illumination, structured illumination, interferometry and total internal reflectance, permitting a plethora of biomedical applications. Reflectance imaging has proven indispensable for critical investigations into the safety and understanding of biomedically and environmentally relevant nano-materials, an area of high priority and investment. The non-destructive in vivo imaging ability of reflectance techniques permits alternative diagnostic strategies that may eventually facilitate the eradication of some invasive biopsy procedures. Reflectance can also provide additional structural information and clarity necessary in fluorescent based in vivo studies. Near-coverslip interrogation techniques, such as reflectance interferometry and total internal reflection, have provided a label free means to investigate cell-surface contacts, cell motility and vesicle trafficking in vivo and in vitro. Other key advances include the ability to acquire superresolution reflectance images providing increased spatial resolution.
authors.affiliation: Physical Science of Imaging in the Biomedical Sciences (PSIBS) Doctoral Training Centre (DTC), Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK; School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.
authors.forename: Emily J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Guggenheim
authors.affiliation: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.
authors.forename: Iseult
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Microscopy and Nikon Imaging Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: Joshua.rappoport@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Joshua Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Rappoport
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008029:Lighting / Q000379:methods; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D008857:Microscopy, Interference / Q000379:methods*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods
keywords: Free; Label; Microscopy; Nanoparticles; Reflectance