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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 10, 2025

Probing Structural and Dynamic Properties of Trafficking Subcellular Nanostructures by Spatiotemporal Fluctuation Spectroscopy

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Published on: August 16, 2021

Measuring Molecular Mass Densities at Subcellular Resolution Using Optical Diffraction Tomography.

Kyoohyun Kim^1,2, Abin Biswas^1,2,3, Jochen Guck^4,5

¹Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Erlangen, Germany.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)

|August 20, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Optical diffraction tomography (ODT) enables precise, label-free measurement of biological mass density. This technique offers new insights into cellular processes and disease states by quantifying density distribution in cells and subcellular structures.

Keywords:

Cytoplasm Label-free imaging Mass density Nucleoplasm Optical diffraction tomography

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Quantitative Optical Microscopy: Measurement of Cellular Biophysical Features with a Standard Optical Microscope

Quantitative Optical Microscopy: Measurement of Cellular Biophysical Features with a Standard Optical Microscope

Published on: April 7, 2014

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Cell Biology
Biophotonics

Background:

Biological systems precisely regulate mass density and volume.
Mass density is crucial for cellular functions like growth and differentiation.
Deviations in density homeostasis are linked to senescence and disease.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a comprehensive guide for implementing optical diffraction tomography (ODT).
To enable high-resolution, label-free quantification of mass density distribution in biological systems.
To offer insights into biophysical properties of cells and subcellular structures.

Main Methods:

Utilizing optical diffraction tomography (ODT) for refractive index (RI) measurements.
Detailing optical setups and optimizing tomography acquisition.
Presenting sample preparation protocols for in vivo and in vitro biological samples.

Main Results:

Demonstrated ODT's capability for label-free, high-resolution density quantification.
Provided guidance on image acquisition and data analysis for biological samples.
Addressed challenges in relating RI to mass density in complex biological substances.

Conclusions:

ODT is a powerful tool for quantitative mass density characterization in biological systems.
The presented guide facilitates the application of ODT in diverse biological research.
Strategies are offered to overcome limitations in RI-based density measurements.