Open AccessQuantitative phase microscopy for cellular dynamics based on transport of intensity equation
Author(s) -
Ying Li,
Jianglei Di,
Chaojie Ma,
Jiwei Zhang,
Jinzhan Zhong,
Kaiqiang Wang,
Teli Xi,
Jianlin Zhao
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.26.000586
Subject(s) - optics , microlens , phase imaging , phase (matter) , microscopy , phase retrieval , microscope , light intensity , materials science , spatial frequency , physics , lens (geology) , fourier transform , quantum mechanics
We demonstrate a simple method for quantitative phase imaging of tiny transparent objects such as living cells based on the transport of intensity equation. The experiments are performed using an inverted bright field microscope upgraded with a flipping imaging module, which enables to simultaneously create two laterally separated images with unequal defocus distances. This add-on module does not include any lenses or gratings and is cost-effective and easy-to-alignment. The validity of this method is confirmed by the measurement of microlens array and human osteoblastic cells in culture, indicating its potential in the applications of dynamically measuring living cells and other transparent specimens in a quantitative, non-invasive and label-free manner.