Abstract
Fluorescence microscopes are commonly used to detect micro and nano biological entities (blood cells, microbes, functionalized particles etc.). Several experimental assays have been developed for biomarker measurements using this microscopy instrument. Common examples include cell viability analysis, surface receptor based specific blood cell enumeration, phagocytosis determination etc. However, the laboratory-based bench top fluorescence microscope suffers from high capital cost, maintenance, experienced staff for its operation and lack of portability. To address several of these challenges, here we have developed a hand-held, portable, 3D printed fluorescence microscope to enable single cell enumeration and nanoparticle imaging operated by smartphone.3D printed platform is composed of top and bottom portions. The bottom portion includes excitation optics including an LED and excitation filter. While the top portion houses an emission filter, and a lens, while a smartphone can be placed on top portion for imaging. The excitation and emission filters can be swapped out for different fluorophores used. We have used the platform for imaging leukocytes collected from the whole blood. Blood samples were procured from Robert Wood Johnson Medical Hospital. We ran the leukocytes on our photonics platform and laboratory florescence microscope concurrently for a comparative analysis and found a high correlation of R2 = 0.99 in between cell counting results. Further, swapping different lenses can achieve high resolution for the imaging system. The resolution was verified by US Airforce Resolution Chart. This allowed us to image fluorescent nanoparticles up to 800nm at various concentrations and excitation modalities.This platform can be used for single-cell analysis, specific leukocytes enumeration and nanoparticles imaging. The demonstrated results can enable significant applications to develop many biomedical and diagnostic assays.
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