Abstract
We describe an optimized digital holographic microscopy system (DHM) suitable for high-resolution visualization of living cells under conditions of altered macroscopic mechanical forces such as those that arise from changes in gravitational force. Experiments were performed on both a ground-based microgravity simulation platform known as the random positioning machine (RPM) as well as during a parabolic flight campaign (PFC). Under these conditions the DHM system proved to be robust and reliable. In addition, the stability of the system during disturbances in gravitational force was further enhanced by implementing post-processing algorithms that best exploit the intrinsic advantages of DHM for hologram autofocusing and subsequent image registration. Preliminary results obtained in the form of series of phase images point towards sensible changes of cytoarchitecture under states of altered gravity.
Highlights
The extraterrestrial space environment exhibiting reduced gravity and cosmic radiations has attracted the attention of scientists as it holds the answer as to how life evolved on earth
EGFP-actin expressing C2C12 myoblasts were plated on glass coverslips and enclosed in the imaging chamber with Dulbecco’s modified eagle medium (DMEM) containing 20% fetal calf serum (FCS)
Disturbances of imaging performance are largely corrected by applying a simple and robust autofocusing algorithm followed by an image registration routine on Digital holographic microscopy (DHM) phase images
Summary
The extraterrestrial space environment exhibiting reduced gravity and cosmic radiations has attracted the attention of scientists as it holds the answer as to how life evolved on earth. Experiments have shown that some of the effects of reduced gravity are permanent, whereas others persist only temporarily. The challenges of conducting such studies are getting access to the limited opportunities on microgravity platforms such as parabolic flights, sounding rockets or space flights, and to design and build experiment hardware suitable for the low-gravity environment and the travel there, defining appropriate procedure for sample handling, as well as conducting sufficient experimental repeats for the subsequent statistical analysis [2]. Spaceflight can be substituted to a large extent by ground-based microgravity simulation platforms such as fast rotating clinostats or 3D clinorotation (for instance, by using a random positioning machine, RPM) or sub-orbital flights (such as parabolic flight campaigns, high altitude balloon drops, and sounding rockets) [3,4]
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