Computational tomography: high-resolution tomographic cell imaging via transmission matrix

Traditional cell imaging is limited to 3D surface imaging and has a relatively low resolution. A phase microscopy technique based on transmission matrix has been proposed for high-resolution tomographic imaging within cells. This method requires only a single measurement with the phase microscope to obtain the phase information from the cell and construct a transmission matrix. By analyzing the singular values of the transmission matrix, this method enables the extraction of structural information at different depths. The effectiveness of the technique was validated through Monte Carlo simulations. Experimental results with red blood cells revealed intracellular structures, achieving an axial resolution of 5 nm. Additionally, the application of this technique in distinguishing white blood cell types demonstrates its ability to effectively image and identify unique structural characteristics of cells. Combining the white light diffraction phase microscope with singular value decomposition based on the transmission matrix, lateral resolution can be achieved within 100 nm. Experimental results highlight the potential of this method in distinguishing subtle cellular components and structural variations, making it a valuable tool for cell biology research and medical diagnostics. This innovative technique provides a highly efficient and non-invasive approach for high-resolution cell imaging, with promising applications in medical diagnostics and biological research.