Biomechanical Microscopy Using Brillouin Scattering

0853773 Yun本计划的目标是研究布里渊散射用于探测生物样品的机械特性。以高空间分辨率测量活体组织和生物材料的弹性的能力将具有广泛的生物医学应用。然而，传统的机械测试不太适合体内测量，其他技术，如超声和弹性成像，提供了有限的空间分辨率。最近，PI已经证明了布里渊光谱用于粘弹性的非侵入性高分辨率测量和成像的潜力。该项目旨在进一步开发仪器，在组织和细胞中测试技术，并研究生物医学应用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，但其在体内生物力学分析中的应用从未被探索过。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细节，以及（3）展示表征晶体透镜弹性的能力。该项目邀请多学科的努力和创新，在许多学科，从物理学和生物光子成像到生物力学产生广泛的影响。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。在哈佛-麻省理工学院HST生物医学光学暑期研究所就读的本科生和实习生将有机会参加这个项目。布里渊成像的成功临床实施可以使早期诊断和监测各种眼部问题，如白内障的干预。

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.