At the invitation of Prof. Liu Xiaojun of MSE and Prof. Yuan Jing of Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO), Professor Gabriel Popescu from the University of Illinuis at Urbana-Champaign visited MSE on May 18, 2017. In the afternoon, He delivered an academic report named “Label-free Imaging of the 3D Cellular Systems” at Room A302 of WNLO.
Prof. Popescu’s primary research area is bio-medical imaging, bio-engineering and acoustics. In the report, he pointed out that, for transparent cell detection, although current phase contract microscope has reached nanometer level, the information obtained was mainly qualitative. Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) technology, a non-invasive and non-contacted optical method, can quantitatively detect the change of cells. Prof. Popescu’s team proposed a new high sensitive QPI instrument called Spatial Light Interference Microscopy(SLIM). Using the white light as a source, SLIM enables the study of structures and dynamics over broad spatial (from nanometer to centimeter) and temporal scales (from milliseconds to weeks) . In the report, Prof. Popescu described the study on cell growth and the structure of a single cell with the help of SLIM, demonstrating the advantages of SLIM and suggesting that SLIM is an effective tool for cancer diagnosis and marker-free live cell monitoring.
He briefly introduced a new technology, namely gradient light interference microscopy. This technique is the extension of traditional differential interference contrast. Using phase shift technology, it can realize the quantitative rather than qualitative detection and can make 3D images for strong scattering sections (sections of embryo,brain and organoid).
In the end, Prof. Popescu shared his experience of scientific research and gave detailed answers to the questions raised by students.
