Graphene-Based Confocal Refractive Index Microscopy for Label-Free Differentiation of Living Epithelial and Mesenchymal Cells
- Lixun SunLixun SunNanophotonics Research Centre, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Micro-Scale Optical Information Technology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaMore by Lixun Sun
- Yijia WangYijia WangLaboratory of Oncologic Molecular Medicine, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin 300121, ChinaMore by Yijia Wang
- Huiqin ZhangHuiqin ZhangInstitute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, ChinaMore by Huiqin Zhang
- Changjun MinChangjun MinNanophotonics Research Centre, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Micro-Scale Optical Information Technology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaMore by Changjun Min
- Yuquan ZhangYuquan ZhangNanophotonics Research Centre, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Micro-Scale Optical Information Technology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaMore by Yuquan Zhang
- Chonglei ZhangChonglei ZhangNanophotonics Research Centre, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Micro-Scale Optical Information Technology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaMore by Chonglei Zhang
- Ziqiang XinZiqiang XinNanophotonics Research Centre, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Micro-Scale Optical Information Technology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaMore by Ziqiang Xin
- Siwei ZhuSiwei ZhuLaboratory of Oncologic Molecular Medicine, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin 300121, ChinaMore by Siwei Zhu
- Yong Yang*Yong Yang*E-mail: [email protected] (Y.Y.).Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, ChinaMore by Yong Yang
- Ronald E. BurgeRonald E. BurgeCavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K.More by Ronald E. Burge
- Xiaocong Yuan*Xiaocong Yuan*E-mail: [email protected] (X.Y.).Nanophotonics Research Centre, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Micro-Scale Optical Information Technology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, ChinaMore by Xiaocong Yuan
Abstract

Label-free imaging and investigation of living cells are significant for many biomedical studies. It has been challenging to detect the epithelial–mesenchymal transition of cells in situ without affecting cellular activity. Here, we present a common-path differential confocal microscope based on the polarization-sensitive absorption of graphene to realize high-performance refractive index imaging and differentiation of living colorectal cancer cells (HCT116) with large detecting depth (1.29 μm), excellent refractive index resolution (2.86 × 10–5 RIU), and high spatial resolution (727 nm) simultaneously. Compared with epithelial (parental HCT116) cells, mesenchymal (paclitaxel-resistant HCT116) cells manifest generally lower refractive index values through the refractive index statistics, which is due to the stronger migration ability and weaker surface adherence of mesenchymal cells. The graphene-based microscopy provides an effective label-free approach to high-resolution imaging and study of living cell kinetics, and we expect it to be widely used in the research fields of pathology, tumorigenesis, and chemotherapy.




