Light-sheet microscopy with attenuation-compensated propagation-invariant beams

Nylk, J., McCluskey, K., Preciado, M.A. , Mazilu, M., Yang, Z., Gunn-Moore, F.J., Aggarwal, S., Tello, J.A., Ferrier, D.E.K. and Dholakia, K. (2018) Light-sheet microscopy with attenuation-compensated propagation-invariant beams. Science Advances, 4(4), eaar4817. (doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aar4817) (PMID:29740614) (PMCID:PMC5938225)

Abstract

Scattering and absorption limit the penetration of optical fields into tissue. We demonstrate a new approach for increased depth penetration in light-sheet microscopy: attenuation-compensation of the light field. This tailors an exponential intensity increase along the illuminating propagation-invariant field, enabling the redistribution of intensity strategically within a sample to maximize signal and minimize irradiation. A key attribute of this method is that only minimal knowledge of the specimen transmission properties is required. We numerically quantify the imaging capabilities of attenuation-compensated Airy and Bessel light sheets, showing that increased depth penetration is gained without compromising any other beam attributes. This powerful yet straightforward concept, combined with the self-healing properties of the propagation-invariant field, improves the contrast-to-noise ratio of light-sheet microscopy up to eightfold across the entire field of view in thick biological specimens. This improvement can significantly increase the imaging capabilities of light-sheet microscopy techniques using Airy, Bessel, and other propagation-invariant beam types, paving the way for widespread uptake by the biomedical community.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The authors thank the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for funding through grants (EP/P030017/1, EP/R004854/1, and EP/J01771X/1). J.A.T. acknowledges funding from the British Society for Neuroendocrinology Project Support Grant, as well as the RS MacDonald Trust. D.E.K.F. acknowledges funding from the Leverhulme Trust.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Preciado, Dr Miguel
• Authors: Nylk, J., McCluskey, K., Preciado, M.A., Mazilu, M., Yang, Z., Gunn-Moore, F.J., Aggarwal, S., Tello, J.A., Ferrier, D.E.K., and Dholakia, K.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Science Advances
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• ISSN: 2375-2548
• ISSN (Online): 2375-2548
• Published Online: 06 April 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Science Advances 4(4): eaar4817
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
• Data DOI: 10.17630/b5ebd26e-dd89-45ca-8478-e9d2f08e5975