Spatial-domain low-coherence quantitative phase microscopy for cancer diagnosis

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Cell Biology
• Cancer Diagnostics

Background:

• Quantitative phase microscopy (QPM) enables label-free imaging of biological samples.
• Subcellular structures and their optical properties are crucial for understanding cell function and disease.
• Current methods for refractive index measurement often require complex sample preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce spatial-domain low-coherence quantitative phase microscopy (SL-QPM) for high-sensitivity imaging.
• To quantify the refractive index of cell nuclei in native histology specimens.
• To evaluate the potential of refractive index measurements for early cancer detection.

Main Methods:

• Development and application of SL-QPM for speckle-free imaging.
• Measurement of refractive index of cell nuclei in unmodified histology samples.
• Correlation of refractive index changes with cancer presence.

Main Results:

• SL-QPM achieved subnanometer sensitivity for imaging subcellular structures.
• The refractive index of cell nuclei was successfully quantified in original histology specimens.
• Cell nucleus refractive index demonstrated high sensitivity in detecting cancer, including in normal-appearing cells from patients.

Conclusions:

• SL-QPM is a powerful tool for label-free, high-sensitivity imaging of subcellular structures.
• Quantifying cell nucleus refractive index offers a promising biomarker for early cancer detection.
• The technique's simplicity and lack of special sample processing facilitate clinical translation.