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Updated: Jan 27, 2026
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Photodeposition of Pd onto Colloidal Au Nanorods by Surface Plasmon Excitation
Published on: August 15, 2019
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Surface plasmon resonance imaging of excitable cells
Carmel L Howe1,2, Kevin F Webb1, Sidahmed A Abayzeed1
1Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
|March 15, 2019
Summary
This study presents a multimodal microscope combining surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging with other modalities for live cell analysis. The platform enables label-free, high-resolution imaging of cellular processes and contractions.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Microscopy
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Surface plasmons (SPs) are sensitive to refractive index changes at metal-dielectric interfaces.
- Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is used in sensors and imaging for detecting refractive index variations.
- High numerical aperture (NA) SPR imaging enables high-resolution live cell imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a multimodal microscope integrating SPR imaging with other microscopy techniques.
- To enable simultaneous label-free and fluorescent imaging of live cells.
- To investigate cellular processes and functions with enhanced spatial and temporal resolution.
Main Methods:
- Development of a multimodal microscope combining SPR imaging, bright-field, epifluorescence, and total internal reflection (TIR) microscopy.
- Utilized a high NA objective lens for SPR and TIR microscopy.
- Imaging of live cell cultures, including stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated simultaneous fluorescent and label-free imaging capabilities.
- Achieved a wide field of view (~300 µm) with resolution sufficient for fine cellular processes.
- Successfully performed label-free functional imaging of cardiomyocyte contractions.
Conclusions:
- The developed multimodal platform offers versatile live cell imaging.
- It provides complementary information through combined imaging modalities.
- Shows promise for long-term, non-invasive imaging of cellular development and function.
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