Dynamic multimodal full-field optical coherence tomography and fluorescence structured illumination microscopy.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Microscopy
• Biophysics

Background:

• Simultaneous imaging of tissue microstructure and biochemical composition is crucial for understanding dynamic biological processes.
• Existing multimodal systems often face limitations in resolution, speed, or compatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel multimodal imaging system integrating full-field optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT) and fluorescence microscopy.
• To enable simultaneous acquisition of high-resolution structural and biochemical information from biological tissues.

Main Methods:

• Developed a combined FF-OCT and structured illumination microscopy system.
• Utilized high numerical aperture objectives for optimal optical performance.
• Engineered the system for simultaneous image acquisition of both modalities.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated simultaneous FF-OCT and fluorescence imaging.
• Visualized the dynamic parallel evolution of tissue microstructures and biochemical environments.
• Observed mechanical wave propagation initiated by calcium waves in heart tissue.

Conclusions:

• The developed multimodal system offers a powerful tool for investigating dynamic biological processes.
• Simultaneous recording of mechanical and biochemical information provides novel insights into tissue function.
• This technology has potential applications in various fields, including developmental biology and disease research.