Low-cost polarization microscopy for cholesterol crystals

Kyungmin Kim, Seonghee Cho, Taehoon Kim, Hyoeun Park, Jinmoo Kim, Seunghoon Lee, Yeonsu Kang, Kiyuk Chang, Chulhong Kim

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Because cholesterol crystals (Chcs) are a major cause of atherosclerosis, imaging Chcs in tissues with high sensitivity and specificity is important in diagnosing and predicting atherosclerosis. Polarizing microscopy (PM) has been widely used to image crystalline materials in tissues, but it has been difficult to distinguish Chcs from other crystalline materials in tissues. Thus, various methods such as fluorescent dye staining, Raman spectroscopy, and two-photon microscopy (TPM) have been developed to image Chcs with high sensitivity and specificity. However, these methods require expensive equipment or complex processes. Therefore, we have developed a low-cost, easy-To-use PM system using an LED light source that can distinguish Chcs from other crystalline materials with high sensitivity and specificity. Due to the nature of the LED spectrum in our system, collagen is displayed in yellow and Chcs in blue. In addition, we have improved the sensitivity and specificity by creating an aqueous condition on the sample. In the aqueous state, signals of yellowish collagen fibers were reduced and signals of Chcs were highlighted. The Chcs detection capability of our system was verified compared with the TPM image. In addition, clinical feasibility was shown by comparison with existing histological methods.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationImaging, Manipulation, and Analysis of Biomolecules, Cells, and Tissues XVI
EditorsDan V. Nicolau, Daniel L. Farkas, Robert C. Leif
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510614796
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018
EventImaging, Manipulation, and Analysis of Biomolecules, Cells, and Tissues XVI 2018 - San Francisco, United States
Duration: 29 Jan 201831 Jan 2018

Publication series

NameProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume10497
ISSN (Print)1605-7422

Conference

ConferenceImaging, Manipulation, and Analysis of Biomolecules, Cells, and Tissues XVI 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period29/01/1831/01/18

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 SPIE.

Keywords

  • Aqueous
  • Cholesterol crystal
  • Color
  • Light-emitting device
  • Polarization microscope

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