Hyperspectral optical diffraction tomography

TL;DR

This paper introduces a hyperspectral optical diffraction tomography technique that captures wavelength-dependent 3-D refractive index distributions of microscopic samples, enabling label-free, molecular-specific imaging of biological specimens.

Contribution

A novel hyperspectral 3-D optical diffraction tomography method using wavelength-swept phase microscopy for detailed biological sample imaging.

Findings

Successfully measured hyperspectral 3-D RI tomograms of various samples

Demonstrated label-free molecular-specific 3-D imaging

Achieved spectral resolution of a few nanometers

Abstract

Here, we present a novel microscopic technique for measuring wavelength-dependent three-dimensional (3-D) distributions of the refractive indices (RIs) of microscopic samples in the visible wavelengths. Employing 3-D quantitative phase microscopy techniques with a wavelength-swept source, 3-D RI tomograms were obtained in the range of 450 - 700 nm with a spectral resolution of a few nanometers. The capability of the technique was demonstrated by measuring the hyperspectral 3-D RI tomograms of polystyrene beads, human red blood cells, and hepatocytes. The results demonstrate the potential for label-free molecular specific 3-D tomography of biological samples.