Measuring structural, chemical, and biomechanical properties of live amphibian erythrocytes using optical diffraction tomography

Abstract

We present optical characterizations of live amphibian erythrocytes by utilizing quantitative phase imaging. Without any labeling or preparation procedures, 3-D refractive index tomogram and 2-D phase delay of amphibian erythrocyte were measured using Mach-Zehnder interferometry. Refractive index value in 3-D tomograms represent structural and chemical features of an erythrocyte and the nucleus. In addition, membrane fluctuation of amphibian erythrocytes was measured to be more profound than that of human erythrocytes.