Jun 26, 2013 |
Lens-free imaging technique that dramatically extends research capabilities into cells, bacteria and viruses
|
(Nanowerk News) CEA-Leti today introduced a new video lens-free imaging technique that redefines bio imaging, provides significant advantages over traditional microscopy, and opens a new range of capabilities for researchers, such as real-time monitoring of cell cultures.
|
Announced at the start of Leti Innovation Days in Grenoble, the lens-free microscope can perform live capture and reach micron-size objects across a very large field of view (24mm2). In addition, the technique enables time-lapse imaging of cell cultures over extended periods.
|
The technique provides multi-scale observation capability across two orders of magnitude, allowing researchers to differentiate between tissues and cells, and bacteria and viruses. It opens a range of applications in pharmacology and biotechnology, including drug screening and bioprocess monitoring, as well portable diagnostics.
|
“This is a very simple and powerful tool that fulfills the ‘simple, small and cheap’ criteria in an unprecedented way and will allow every researcher to image biology in a disruptive manner,” said Leti CEO Laurent Malier. “As a result, we believe that widespread use of this new microscopy technique will have significant impact on our understanding of biological systems.”
|
“This technique allows us to image and probe tissues, cells and even bacteria and viruses in an unprecedented way,” said Leti researcher Cédric Allier, who helped develop the lens-free system. “Instead of using bulky microscopes to image biological systems at very high resolution, the simple and lightweight lens-free microscope – which uses a CMOS sensor and a LED – can provide time-lapse movies of thousands of cells per image and monitor cell cultures in real time.”
|
Moreover, high throughput analysis of fundamental properties of cell populations can be performed without the necessity of markers, e.g. cell adhesion, cell division, cell migration and cell morphology.
|