Distinguishing between whole cells and cell debris using surface plasmon coupled emission

Area of Science:

• Optical Physics
• Biomedical Imaging
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Accurate differentiation between whole cells and cell debris is vital for diagnostic microscopy, particularly in identifying infectious agents like Mycobacterium tuberculosis in pulmonary samples.
• Current methods may require complex microscopy setups, limiting accessibility and speed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To theoretically demonstrate a novel method for distinguishing whole cells from cell debris using surface plasmon coupled emission (SPCE).
• To explore the potential of this technique for label-free, microscope-free cellular analysis.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling of SPCE patterns generated by fluorescently-labeled whole cells and cell debris on a thin metal film.
• Analysis of far-field emission patterns, specifically the number and angular separation of emitted rings.

Main Results:

• Whole cells produce SPCE at multiple angles, resulting in two or more distinct far-field rings.
• Cell debris generate SPCE at a single angle, creating only one far-field ring.
• The angular separation of rings from whole cells is distinct enough for reliable differentiation.

Conclusions:

• The number of rings in the SPCE far-field pattern serves as a reliable indicator to distinguish whole cells from cell debris.
• This technique offers a promising avenue for simplified, potentially microscope-free cellular analysis and diagnostics.