Smartphone-based optical sectioning (SOS) microscopy with a telecentric design for fluorescence imaging.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Microscopy Technology

Background:

• Traditional HiLo microscopy systems are expensive and complex.
• There is a need for cost-effective and portable microscopy solutions for diverse research settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a smartphone-based optical sectioning microscope (SOS) utilizing the HiLo technique.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of using a smartphone as a core component for illumination and detection.
• To achieve high-contrast imaging and optical sectioning capabilities at a significantly reduced cost.

Main Methods:

• Integration of a smartphone with off-the-shelf optical and mechanical components using 3D-printed adapters.
• Utilizing the smartphone's LED as a light source coupled to a digital mirror device (DMD).
• Employing an electrically tunable lens (ETL) for low-cost axial scanning within a telecentric 4f configuration.

Main Results:

• The smartphone-based optical sectioning microscope (SOS) achieved a 571.5 µm telecentric scanning range and 11.7 µm axial resolution.
• Successful high-contrast imaging of fluorescent polystyrene beads with different wavelengths.
• Demonstrated optical sectioning of multilayer fluorescent polystyrene beads.

Conclusions:

• The proposed smartphone-based HiLo optical sectioning microscopy is the first of its kind, costing significantly less than traditional systems.
• This technology offers a powerful and accessible tool for biomedical research, particularly in resource-limited environments.
• The SOS system provides a viable alternative for advanced imaging applications requiring optical sectioning.