Use of live cell inteferometry with reflective floor of observation chamber to determine changes in mass of mammalian cells
First Claim
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1. A method for determining changes in optical thickness and/or mass of a mammalian cell, the method comprising:
- (a) placing a mammalian cell in an observation chamber of a microscope, wherein the observation chamber is adapted to form an aqueous environment, and wherein said observation chamber comprises a reflective floor;
(b) using an interference microscope to detect changes in optical path length introduced by said cell as light passes through said cell and is reflected back from said reflective floor;
(c) altering the first environment to form a second environment;
(d) using said interference microscope to detect changes in optical path length introduced by said cell as light passes through said cell in said second environment and is reflected back from said reflective floor;
(e) comparing the observations in (b) with the observations in (d) so as to determine changes in the optical thickness and/or mass of said cell resulting from the alteration of said first environment to said second environment.
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Abstract
The present invention provides optical systems and methods for determining a characteristic of a cell, such as cell type, cellular response to a biochemical event, biological state and the like. The methods typically involve using interferometry to observe membrane properties in a cell and then use this information to determine one or more characteristics of a cell. The methods of the invention are useful for applications such as drug screening as well as diagnostic techniques.
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11 Claims
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1. A method for determining changes in optical thickness and/or mass of a mammalian cell, the method comprising:
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(a) placing a mammalian cell in an observation chamber of a microscope, wherein the observation chamber is adapted to form an aqueous environment, and wherein said observation chamber comprises a reflective floor; (b) using an interference microscope to detect changes in optical path length introduced by said cell as light passes through said cell and is reflected back from said reflective floor; (c) altering the first environment to form a second environment; (d) using said interference microscope to detect changes in optical path length introduced by said cell as light passes through said cell in said second environment and is reflected back from said reflective floor; (e) comparing the observations in (b) with the observations in (d) so as to determine changes in the optical thickness and/or mass of said cell resulting from the alteration of said first environment to said second environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification