Interferometric Reflectance Confocal Microscope for Label-Free Imaging of Dynamic Sub-Cellular Activities

This invention describes the design of an interferometric reflectance confocal microscope that can achieve label-free imaging of dynamic sub-cellular activities through the use of intensity temporal fluctuation analysis in conjunction with a confocal microscopy approach and interference detection. The microscope can be used widely in biology laboratories and by pharmaceutical companies for basic research, drug development, and personalized medicine.

Background: 
Fluorescent agents are commonly used to visualize sub cellular activities in microscopy. The staining process, however, is labor intensive and time consuming, which makes it difficult to observe live samples over extended periods. In addition, repeated staining can disrupt normal biological processes. This creates a need for imaging devices capable of visualizing dynamic sub cellular activities in organoids and other human tissues without the use of exogenous fluorescent agents.

Applications: 

• Biology laboratories
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Personalized medicine
• Drug development
• Microscopy 

Advantages: 

• Visualization of sub-cellular activities
• Label-free
• Improved throughput, accuracy, and reproducibility of experimental observations
  • Reduce the number of organoids that need to be cultured 
  • Test multiple drug conditions
• Low-cost compared to current label-free microscope methods
• Improved sensitivity in axial metabolic motion
• Enables longitudinal monitoring