3D cell models morphological monitoring using OCT and extended depth of focus-OCM

Abstract

3D cell models indicate stronger similarities in vivo than monolayer cell culture, and thus is raising awareness as an important tool for evaluating biological phenomena, drug action, and mechanism of diseases. This paper compared two imaging systems for accurate measurements of the morphological structure and volume quantification of 3D tumor spheroids. The two imaging systems are OCT using a scan lens and EDOF-OCM, which uses a Bessel beam to expand the depth of field. Human hepatoma cells were used for spheroid formation. To compare the effectiveness of the imaging system, we measured the spheroid structure according to cell number per spheroid and growth per day. Although both systems were able to acquire the morphological structure and quantify volume of 3D tumor spheroids the OCM using the Bessel beam was able to more accurately measure the overall structure of the spheroid without surface reflection.