To observe living cells through a micro­scope, a sample is usually squeezed onto a glass slide. It then lies there calmly and the cells are observable. The disadvantage is that this limits how the cells behave and it only produces two-dimensional images. Researchers from UiT The Arctic University of Norway and the University Hospital of North Norway (UNN) have now developed what they are referring to as the next generation micro­scope. The new techno­logy can take pictures of much larger samples than before, while living and working in a more natural environ­ment. 

The technology provides 3D images where researchers can study the smallest details from several angles, clearly and visibly, sorted into different layers and all layers are in focus. 3D micro­scopes do already exist, but they work slowly and give poorer results. The most common type works by recording pixel after pixel in series, which are then assembled into a 3D image. This takes time and often they can't handle more than 1 to 5 shots a minute. It's not very practical if what you're going to photograph something that moves. 

“With our technology, we can manage around 100 full frames per second. And we believe it is possible to increase this number. This is just what we have demons­trated with our prototype,” says Florian Ströhl, researcher at UiT. The new microscope is a multifocus micro­scope, which provides completely clear images, sorted into different layers, where you can study the cells from all angles. “It’s a big deal. The fact that we manage to get all this in one take, it is a huge develop­ment,” says Ströhl. 

Ströhl explains that we are not talking about 3D in the form most of us know it. While in a tradi­tional 3D image you will be able to perceive some kind of depth, with the new technology you are also be able to see behind objects. Ströhl uses an example where you see a jungle scene in 3D at the cinema. “In a normal 3D image, you can see that the forest has a depth, that some leaves and trees are closer than others. With the same techno­logy used in our new 3D microscope, you are also able to see the tiger hiding behind the bushes. You are able to see and study several layers inde­pendently,” says Ströhl. 

Ströhl has colla­borated with researchers and doctors from the University Hospital of North Norway (UNN) in the development of this technology. Among other things, they work to understand and develop better treatment methods for various heart diseases. Studying a living human heart is challenging, both for technical reasons and not least for ethical reasons. Thus, researchers have used stem cells that are mani­pulated so that they mimic heart cells. In this way, they can grow organic tissue that behaves as it would in a human heart, and they can study and test this tissue to understand more about what is happening.

This tissue is almost like a small lump of live meat, about 1 centimeter in size. This makes for a very demanding test situation, where heart cells beat and are in constant motion along it the fact that the sample is too large to study with tradi­tional microscopes. The new micro­scope handles this well. “You have this pumping lump of meat in a bowl, which you want to take micro­scope pictures of. You want to view at the very smallest parts of this, and you want super high resolution. We have achieved this with the new microscope,” says Ströhl. 

Kenneth Bowitz Larsen heads a large laboratory with advanced micro­scopes that are used by all the research groups at the Faculty of Health at UiT. He has tested this new microscope, and is optimistic. “The concept is brilliant, the microscope they have built does things that the commer­cial systems do not,” Larsen explains. The labora­tory he heads mainly uses commercial micro­scopes from different suppliers.

“Then we also colla­borate with research groups like the one Florian Ströhl represents. They build microscopes and test optical concepts, they are in a way like the formula 1 division of microscopy,” Larsen says. Larsen has great faith in the new micro­scope Ströhl has created. The commercial micro­scopes must be usable for all kinds of possible samples, while the microscope Ströhl has developed is more tailored to a specific task. 

“It is very photo­sensitive, and it can depict the specimen in various focuses. It can work its way through the sample and you can view both high and low. And it happens so fast that it can practically be seen in real time. It's an extremely fast microscope,” Larsen says. According to Larsen, the tests so far show that this works well, and he believes this type of microscope can even­tually be used on all types of samples where you look at living things that move.

He also sees another advantage with the speed of this microscope. “Bright lights are not kind to cells. Since this micro­scope is so fast, it exposes the cells to much shorter illumination and is therefore more gentle,” he explains. The prototype of the micro­scope works and is opera­tional. The researchers are currently working on creating an upgraded version that is easier to use, so that more people are able to operate and use the microscope. 

The researchers have also applied for a patent and are also looking for industrial partners who will develop this into a microscope that will be available for sale. In the meantime, the proto­type will be made available to local partners who can benefit from the new techno­logy. “We will also offer it to others in Norway, if they have parti­cularly demanding samples that they want examined,” says Ströhl. (Source: UiT)

Reference: F. Ströhl et al.: Multifocus microscopy with optical sectioning and high axial resolution, Optica 9, 1210 (2022); DOI: 10.1364/OPTICA.468583

Link: Optical Systems, Dept. of Physics and Technology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway