Biomechanical Microscopy Using Brillouin Scattering

这个计划的目标是研究布里渊散射，以探测生物样品的机械性能。在体内以高空间分辨率测量组织和生物材料的弹性的能力将在生物医学中有广泛的应用。然而，传统的机械测试不太适合活体测量，而其他技术，如超声波和弹性成像，提供的空间分辨率有限。最近，PI已经展示了布里渊光谱在粘弹性的非侵入性高分辨率测量和成像方面的潜力。该项目旨在进一步开发该仪器，在组织和细胞中测试该技术，并研究生物医学应用中纳米材料的布里渊散射的基本特性。虽然布里渊光谱学早已为人所知，但它在活体生物力学分析中的应用却从未被探索过。该项目的科学价值在于：(1)将布里渊技术从传统的点采样光谱学扩展到一种新的生物力学成像模式；(2)了解各种组织、细胞和纳米材料中布里渊散射的基本原理和特性；(3)展示表征晶体透镜弹性的能力。更广泛的影响这个项目邀请多学科的努力和创新，以在从物理学和生物光子学成像到生物力学的许多学科产生广泛的影响。这为在哈佛医学院高度创新和协作的环境中教育和培训跨学科研究生和研究员提供了理想的机会。参加哈佛-麻省理工学院生物医学光学暑期研究所和实习的本科生将有机会参与这个项目。布里渊成像在临床上的成功应用可能使早期诊断和监测各种眼部问题的干预措施成为可能，如白内障。

0853773YunThe goal of this proposal is to investigate Brillouin scattering for probing the mechanical properties of biological samples. The ability to measure the elasticity of tissue and biomaterial in vivo at high spatial resolution would have a wide range of biomedical applications. However, conventional mechanical tests are not well suited for in vivo measurements, and other techniques, such as ultrasound and elastography, offer a limited spatial resolution. Recently, the PI has demonstrated the potential of Brillouin spectroscopy for non-invasive high-resolution measurement and imaging of viscoelasticity. This project aims to further develop the instrument, test the technology in tissues and cells, and study the fundamental characteristics of Brillouin scattering of nano-materials for biomedical applications. Intellectual Merits Although Brillouin spectroscopy has long been known, its application to in vivo biomechanical analysis has never been explored. The scientific merits of this project is that it allows the following: (1) to extend the Brillouin technique from traditional point-sampling spectroscopy to a novel biomechanical imaging modality, (2) to understand the fundamentals and specifics of Brillouin scattering in various tissues, cells, and nano-materials, and (3) to demonstrate the ability to characterize the elasticity of crystalline lens. Broader impacts This project invites multidisciplinary efforts and innovations to make broad impacts across many disciplines, from physics and biophotonic imaging to biomechanics. This provides an ideal opportunity to educate and train interdisciplinary graduate students and fellows in highly innovative and collaborative environments at Harvard Medical School. Undergraduate students enrolled in the Harvard-MIT HST Summer Institute for Biomedical Optics and internship will be given an opportunity to participate in this project. Successful clinical implementation of Brillouin imaging may enable early diagnosis and monitoring of intervention in a variety of ocular problems such as cataract.