Imaging brain tissue slices with terahertz near-field microscopy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical imaging
• Terahertz (THz) technology
• Microscopy

Background:

• Photoconductive antenna microprobe (PCAM)-based THz near-field imaging offers high resolution and biocompatibility for biomedical detection.
• Existing PCAM systems face limitations in imaging speed and precise control of tip-sample separation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an improved PCAM-based THz near-field microscope for enhanced imaging of biological samples.
• To overcome the speed and control limitations of conventional PCAM systems.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a voice coil motor-based delay-line to accelerate imaging speed.
• Developed an image analysis technique for precise control of tip-sample separation.
• Utilized a home-built PCAM-based THz near-field microscope.

Main Results:

• Achieved a 100-fold increase in imaging speed compared to conventional systems.
• Enabled tip-sample separation control down to a few micrometers (e.g., 3 μm).
• Successfully imaged mouse brain tissue slices with clear identification of different regions.

Conclusions:

• The improved THz near-field microscope significantly enhances imaging speed and control for biological samples.
• This technique provides a viable and efficient method for biomedical detection using THz near-field microscopy.
• Demonstrated unambiguous imaging of mouse brain tissue slices, highlighting the system's potential in biological research.