Beam me up, Scotty! Holography and the use of holograms to diagnose disease could replace the use of traditional microscopy in the very near future.
Limitations of Current Technology
Traditional light microscopy has been available to diagnose disease since the 17th century.
Today health care practitioners rely on light microscopy to diagnose and manage infections, bleeding disorders, diseases of red blood cells, cancer, and identify problems at the cellular and tissue level. Current techniques for the microscopic examination of cells and tissues requires complex sample preparation and staining techniques as well as analysis by highly trained medical specialists. Artifact and subjectivity can introduce error and reduce accuracy as well as slow test throughput. While lab automation and analysis of digital images by artificial intelligence, improves speed and consistency, light microscopy continues to have limitations.
About Holographic Cell Reconstruction
Holography is a technique that uses a laser to create a three-dimensional image of an object by recording the interference pattern of the light waves reflected from the object and a reference beam. The recorded interference pattern, called a hologram, can then be used to reconstruct the original image of the object by illuminating it with the same reference beam1.
Holographic cell reconstruction applies this technique to biological cells, which are transparent and have complex structures and properties. By using a laser to illuminate a cell sample and recording the hologram of the scattered light, holographic cell reconstruction can capture both the amplitude and phase information of the cell, which are related to its morphology, refractive index, and optical path length. The hologram can then be processed by a computer to reconstruct the cell image, which can reveal the cell's shape, size, volume, surface area, and internal structure2.
Advantages of Digital Holographic Microscopy
Holographic cell reconstruction has several advantages over conventional diagnostic methods, such as:
High resolution and contrast: Holographic cell reconstruction can achieve sub-micron resolution and high contrast, as it can detect the subtle differences in the phase and amplitude of the light waves caused by the cell's structure and composition. This can enable the visualization and measurement of fine details and features of the cell, such as membranes, organelles, and nuclei, which are often invisible or indistinguishable by conventional microscopy2.
Non-invasiveness and label-free:Â Holographic cell reconstruction does not require any staining, labeling, or fixation of the cell sample, as it relies on the intrinsic optical properties of the cell. This can preserve the cell's natural state and function, and avoid any potential artifacts or damage caused by chemical or physical treatments. This can also reduce the cost, time, and complexity of sample preparation and analysis2.
Real-time and dynamic: Holographic cell reconstruction can capture and reconstruct the cell image in real-time, as it does not involve any scanning or mechanical movement of the sample or the detector. This can enable the observation and monitoring of the cell's dynamic behavior and response to external stimuli, such as drugs, temperature, or electric fields. This can also facilitate the analysis of large numbers of cells in a short time, as multiple holograms can be recorded and processed simultaneously2.
Clinical Application of Digital Holographic Microscopy
Healthcare providers are constrained by time, high staff turnover, and increasing caseload. Dependence on centralized reference labs can limit access to care and delay diagnosis and treatment. Digital holographic microscopy has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and access to care.
Holographic cell reconstruction has many potential applications in diagnostic testing, such as:
Blood analysis: Holographic cell reconstruction can be used to analyze blood cells, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, and detect any abnormalities or diseases, such as anemia, leukemia, malaria, or sickle cell disease. By measuring the morphological parameters and optical properties of the blood cells, holographic cell reconstruction can provide information about the cell's health, function, and type3.
Cancer diagnosis:Â Holographic cell reconstruction can be used to diagnose cancer, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, or prostate cancer, by analyzing the biopsied tissue or fluid samples. By comparing the reconstructed images of the normal and cancerous cells, holographic cell reconstruction can identify the presence and stage of cancer, as well as the molecular markers and genetic mutations of the cancer cells4.
Infection detection:Â Holographic cell reconstruction can be used to detect infections, such as bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, by analyzing the infected cells or the pathogens themselves. By measuring the changes in the cell's morphology, refractive index, and optical path length caused by the infection, holographic cell reconstruction can diagnose the type and severity of the infection, as well as the susceptibility and resistance of the pathogens to antibiotics or antivirals.
Access to care: Digital holographic microscopy could increase access to care as well as improve diagnostic accuracy because it simplifies sample preparation, processing, and machine maintenance, making it the ideal solution for bringing diagnostics closer to patients. Consumables are reduced from multiple reagent packs to a single "slide" similar to the traditional glass slide. Sample size can be as small as a single drop of blood. Reduced consumables and smaller sample size decreases waste and makes this technology well suited for point of care diagnostic testing.
Conclusion
Holographic cell reconstruction is a novel and promising technique that can improve diagnostic testing, by providing high-resolution, non-invasive, and real-time images of biological cells. Holographic cell reconstruction can reveal the cell's structure, function, and dynamics, and help detect, diagnose, and monitor various diseases and conditions.
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