Quantum-Limited Light Scattering-Based Label-Free Measurement of Cellular States
Abstract
Important cellular events involve precisely regulated dynamic arrangement of subcellular components, including organelles, cytoskeletons, and super-molecular complexes. In corollary, changes in the dynamics of subcellular components often signify pathological development. If these dynamic changes can be sensitively detected and measured, they can provide valuable information about the state of the cell. In our previous study we successfully built the Light InterFerence Energetics (LIFE) microscope, and used it to image bacteria and mammalian cells. Built on this successful effort, we aim to expand the technology so that we can decode the biophysical significance of the interference spectrum pattern and gain detailed information about cell states. We plan to do so with a three-pronged approach- instrumentation, computation and experimental measurement. At the instrumentation front, we plan to develop fast fitting algorithms using to enable real-time multi-parameter imaging. At the computation front, we will establish a model to depict the dynamic light scattering pattern of various subcellular components.. At the measurement front, we will decode the LIFE spectra to infer multiple cellular states. We also plan to expand the cell states detectable by LIFE microscopy from three to many, including stem cell-like, differentiated, apoptotic, stressed, dormant, etc. As proof of concept, we plan to demonstrate that LIFE microscopy, combined with the diagnosis platform, can be used to detect differences in intracellular dynamics in cells subjected to different physical microenvironment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 06, 2025
- Source ID
- FA95502410286
Entities
People
- Yun Chen
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Johns Hopkins University
- United States Air Force