Holographic Optical Imaging and Manipulation Techniques

Optical imaging of live cells is essential for the study of cell biology and is important for the diagnosis of several diseases. In addition, optical manipulation of individual cells may open new avenues for the investigation of various cell mechanisms and physiology. One of the challenges in bioimaging is that individual biological cells are transparent due to weak scattering whereas biological tissues, which consist of multiple layers of transparent cells, are opaque due to strong scattering. To address this challenge, several holography-based techniques have been introduced over the past decade. Three-dimensional holographic microscopy enables 3D label-free imaging of live cells and tissues. Holographic control, in combination with holographic measurements, provides a method to systematically manipulate live cells. Furthermore, holographic wavefront shaping offers a non-invasive method to image individual cells through intact biological tissues. To provide insight into how holography techniques can be exploited for various applications in bioimaging, we summarize recent progress on holographic methods and their applications in bioimaging.