Cancer remains one of the most important contributors to premature mortality at the global level. The elastic properties of cells and tissue have been shown to correlate with normal, dysplastic, and cancerous states. In this work, we rely on time-resolved Brillouin scattering to characterise cancerous and normal cells with contrast provided by their elastic properties. In doing so, we achieved proof of concept that artificial intelligence can be used to differentiate between cancerous and normal cell lines with a low number of highly localised measurements. A differentiation accuracy of 93%, was obtained probing in a volume of a few microns corresponding to a single phonon measurement. Our findings suggest the possibility of potential applications for diagnostics.
In order to realise the clinical potential of Brillouin scattering-based techniques, it is critical to develop an endoscopic probe for measuring elasticity in future in-vivo environments. We have developed a phonon probe which actively injects high amplitude GHz strain pulses into specimens and have demonstrated proof of concept this technique can be used for high resolution 3D imaging. In this talk we show that this new technology is highly applicable to the 3D elasticity imaging of biological tissue from the single-cell scale to multi-cellular organisms and provides a future pathway for the clinical application of in-vivo Brillouin spectroscopy of tissue.
This abstract describes a potential method to improve the lateral resolution of Phonon microscopy, a novel noninvasive elasticity imaging microscopy for 3D cell imaging by measuring the time-resolved Brillouin scattering signal. While this technique provides sub-optical axial resolution, the lateral resolution is limited by the optical system that generates the coherent phonon fields. To overcome this limitation, the authors suggest using novel optoacoustic lenses working in GHz frequencies to focus the laser generated coherent phonon fields and thus obtain true acoustic resolution in both axial and lateral dimensions. These lenses can be fabricated at the nanoscale and can also be compatible with ultrasonic endoscopic imaging systems in further applications.
KEYWORDS: Tissues, Tissue optics, Stereoscopy, Scattering, Phonons, Organisms, Optical fibers, New and emerging technologies, Light scattering, In vivo imaging
In order to realise the clinical potential of Brillouin scattering-based techniques, it is critical to develop an endoscopic probe for measuring elasticity in future in-vivo environments. We have developed a phonon probe which actively injects high amplitude GHz strain pulses into specimens and have demonstrated proof of concept this technique can be used for high resolution 3D imaging. In this talk we show that this new technology is highly applicable to the 3D elasticity imaging of biological tissue from the single-cell scale to multi-cellular organisms and provides a future pathway for the clinical application of in-vivo Brillouin spectroscopy of tissue.
Optical fibres have revolutionised clinical practice in the form of the optical endoscope, and are now providing the framework for an entirely new endoscopic paradigm: all-optical ultrasound. Ultrasonic techniques, and in particular those based on the opto-acoustic effect of Brillouin scattering, present a number of advantages compared to purely optical techniques. High contrast imaging can be achieved without the use of fluorescent labels, elastic properties of the specimen can be quantified, lateral resolution is provided by optics, and axial resolution is provided by sub-optical wavelength non-destructive phonons. Here we present an optical fibre-based time resolved Brillouin scattering system, called a phonon probe, which is capable of measuring nanometric topography and elastic properties in parallel from microscopic samples. We also demonstrate that our technique is inherently compatible with standard coherent imaging bundles, which will drive the technology towards future in vivo applications.
Characterisation of the elasticity of biological cells is growing as a way to study cell biology. Cell mechanics are related to cell behaviour and potential applications offer great opportunities. Current methods to study cell mechanics are often limited as they may require contact or greater resolution. From the state of the art, the use of high frequency ultrasound (phonons) is one of the most promising since it offers label-free, high resolution and can be integrated on optical microscopes.
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