Development of an Optical-Based Mechanical Properties Microscope for Observing Cultured Cells

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K18076
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 90130:Medical systems-related
• Research Institution: Hamamatsu University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Tamura Kazuki 浜松医科大学, 光尖端医学教育研究センター, 助教 (40822614)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 計測工学 / 生体計測 / 光音響効果 / 熱弾性波 / 硬さ計測 / レーザー超音波

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Clinical evaluations of diseases based on the "stiffness" of living tissues are commonly used. However, in the field of basic research, there are few simple methods for measuring the stiffness of cells and tissues. We aim to develop a stiffness microscope that combines optical excitation and vibration measurement to achieve simple stiffness measurements using existing optical microscopes.
In this study, we constructed a polarization Michelson interferometer and a polarization Sagnac interferometer to realize optical vibration measurement through optical interferometry. We demonstrated that it is possible to measure pulse vibrations induced by optical excitation. Based on these findings, we aim to achieve high-speed and accurate two-dimensional measurements for cell analysis.

Free Research Field

計測工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は、生体計測における硬さ計測の簡便化に寄与し、非侵襲かつ簡便な計測の実現に貢献すると考えられる。また、本研究で使用した光加振と光振動計測を組み合わせた手法は、レーザ超音波技術として1980年代に大規模構造物向けに開発された技術である。本研究の成果は、従来よりも小さなエネルギーでかつ顕微鏡観察下の小さなサンプルに対して当該技術を応用する基盤となり得る。よって、今後微細構造等へのレーザー超音波技術の応用に活用されることが期待される。