The development of innovative tools for spatiotemporal imaging of cell and tissue cultures with single cell accuracy significantly advance our understanding of the cell function and heterogeneity of the tissues. An ideal method would yield quantitative structural and dynamic information simultaneously at multiple spatiotemporal scales, from nanometers to centimeters and milliseconds to days. As label-free, low-illumination power, Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) methods are:
- Noninvasive and, thus, suitable for stable, long term investigation without cellular damage
- Provide simultaneous information from a large field of view of many cells
- Allow submicron levels of resolution.
Phi Optics Spatial Light Interference Microscopy (SLIM) and Gradient Light Interference Microscopy (GLIM)provide faster and more sensitive imaging of live cells and tissues than currently possible with the state-of-the-art technology. White light illumination provides speckle-free images, which convert to spatially sensitive optical path-length measurements of nanometers.
The common path interferometry in SLIM and GLIM enables temporally sensitive optical path-length measurement down to sub-nanometers. Co-registration with the fluorescence channels of the microscope represents a significant feature, which enables control and co-localisation experiments based on fluorescence tags. We will introduce the company and out products and illustrate the capabilities with select applications.