High-throughput line-illumination Raman microscopy with multislit detection

Strength in numbers: Unleashing the potential of trans-scale scope AMATERAS for massive cell quantification

Singularity biology is a scientific field that targets drastic state changes in multicellular systems, aiming to discover the key cells that induce the state change and investigate the mechanisms behind them. To achieve this goal, we developed a trans-scale optical imaging system (trans-scale scope), that is capable of capturing both macroscale changes across the entire system and the micro-scale behavior of individual cells, surpassing the cell observation capabilities of traditional microscopes. We developed two units of the trans-scale scope, named AMATERAS-1 and -2, which demonstrated the ability to observe multicellular systems consisting of over one million cells in a single field of view with sub-cellular resolution. This flagship instrument has been used to observe the dynamics of various cell species, with the advantage of being able to observe a large number of cells, allowing the detection and analysis of rare events and cells such as leader cells in multicellular pattern formation and cells that spontaneously initiate calcium waves. In this paper, we present the design concept of AMATERAS, the optical configuration, and several examples of observations, and demonstrate how the strength-in-numbers works in life sciences.

Exploring the future of regenerative medicine: Unveiling the potential of optical microscopy for structural and functional imaging of stem cells

Regenerative medicine, which utilizes stem cells for tissue and organ repair, holds immense promise in healthcare. A comprehensive understanding of stem cell characteristics is crucial to unlock their potential. This study explores the pivotal role of optical microscopy in advancing regenerative medicine as a potent tool for stem cell research. Advanced optical microscopy techniques enable an in-depth examination of stem cell behavior, morphology, and functionality. The review encompasses current optical microscopy, elucidating its capabilities and constraints in stem cell imaging, while also shedding light on emerging technologies for improved stem cell visualization. Optical microscopy, complemented by techniques like fluorescence and multiphoton imaging, enhances our comprehension of stem cell dynamics. The introduction of label-free imaging facilitates noninvasive, real-time stem cell monitoring without external dyes or markers. By pushing the boundaries of optical microscopy, researchers reveal the intricate cellular mechanisms underpinning regenerative processes, thereby advancing more effective therapeutic strategies. The current study not only outlines the future of regenerative medicine but also underscores the pivotal role of optical microscopy in both structural and functional stem cell imaging.

Fast Raman imaging through the combination of context-aware matrix completion and low spectral resolution

Raman hyperspectral imaging is an effective method for label-free imaging with chemical specificity, yet the weak signals and correspondingly long integration times have hindered its wide adoption as a routine analytical method. Recently, low resolution Raman imaging has been proposed to improve the spectral signal-to-noise ratio, which significantly improves the speed of Raman imaging. In this paper, low resolution Raman spectroscopy is combined with "context-aware" matrix completion, where regions of the sample that are not of interest are skipped, and the regions that are measured are under-sampled, then reconstructed with a low-rank constraint. Both simulations and experiment show that low-resolution Raman boosts the speed and image quality of the computationally-reconstructed Raman images, allowing deeper sub-sampling, reduced exposure time, and an overall >10-fold improvement in imaging speed, without sacrificing chemical specificity or spatial image quality. As the method utilizes traditional point-scan imaging, it retains full confocality and is "backwards-compatible" with pre-existing traditional Raman instruments, broadening the potential scope of Raman imaging applications.