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Related Experiment Video

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Measurement of X-ray Beam Coherence along Multiple Directions Using 2-D Checkerboard Phase Grating

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Published on: October 11, 2016

Reflection phase microscopy using spatio-temporal coherence of light.

Youngwoon Choi^1,2, Poorya Hosseini³, Jeon Woong Kang³

¹School of Biomedical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea.

|April 23, 2019

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a high-speed reflection phase microscope to measure cellular biomechanics. The novel technique visualizes nanometric movements of cell structures, offering insights into disease mechanisms.

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Last Updated: Jan 26, 2026

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Area of Science:

Biophysics
Cellular mechanics
Microscopy

Background:

Cellular biomechanical changes are linked to various disease states.
Label-free phase microscopy quantifies cellular rheological properties via interface fluctuations.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a high-speed reflection phase microscope for precise cellular biomechanical measurements.
To achieve superior depth selectivity and phase sensitivity for visualizing nanometric cellular motion.

Main Methods:

Utilized spatio-temporal coherence of light for a high-speed reflection phase microscope.
Quantified thermally driven interface fluctuations and cellular rheological properties.
Converted reflection phase to displacement for nanometric fluctuation measurement.

Main Results:

Visualized nanometric scale motion of cytoplasmic structures with 3D resolution.
Observed spontaneous fluctuations on the nuclear membrane of living cells at video rate.
Achieved a sensitivity of approximately one nanometer in quantifying nuclear membrane fluctuation.

Conclusions:

The developed reflection phase microscope offers high sensitivity and speed for cellular biomechanics.
This technique can visualize nanometric movements, aiding in understanding cellular processes.
Potential to elucidate biomechanical mechanisms in both pathological and physiological conditions.