Review on Complete Mueller Matrix Optical Scanning Microscopy Imaging

Aymeric Le Gratiet,Ali Mohebi,Alberto Diaspro,Paolo Bianchini,Fabio Callegari

doi:10.3390/app11041632

Aymeric Le Gratiet, Ali Mohebi + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/app11041632

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Abstract

Optical scanning microscopy techniques based on the polarization control of the light have the capability of providing non invasive label-free contrast. By comparing the polarization states of the excitation light with its transformation after interaction with the sample, the full optical properties can be summarized in a single 4×4 Mueller matrix. The main challenge of such a technique is to encode and decode the polarized light in an optimal way pixel-by-pixel and take into account the polarimetric artifacts from the optical devices composing the instrument in a rigorous calibration step. In this review, we describe the different approaches for implementing such a technique into an optical scanning microscope, that requires a high speed rate polarization control. Thus, we explore the recent advances in term of technology from the industrial to the medical applications.

Highlights

Callegar, F.; Bianchini, P.; Diaspro, A.Polarization-based imaging techniques are powerful approaches having the unique ability to produce specific contrasts for revealing hidden information [1]
We describe the different approaches for implementing such a technique into an optical scanning microscope, that requires a high speed rate polarization control
Mueller matrix microscopy is an interesting label-free approach for understanding the organization of any medium that demonstrate its potentiality in the many fields

Summary

Introduction

Field-programmable gate array (FPGA) card in real-time [18] Nowadays, since this passive technique does not require any sophisticated mathematical model or expansive optical features, it exists numerous commercial polarization-resolved camera, dedicated for remote sensing or widefield imaging [19,20,21]. This review article is dedicated to the description of the experimental advances in the field of complete MM in optical scanning microscope for imaging pixelby-pixel the xy focal plane of the objective This measurement method differs from using the scanning beam and is based on collecting the angular fingerprint of the sample as it is often proposed in polarization-resolved scatterometry [23]. The imaging of such small objects is made using fluorescence techniques showing an extraordinary capability of tracking localized molecules beyond the diffraction limit It requires the use of fluorophores and high light-dose that can alter the sample organization. We present different applications of this technique, demonstrated its performances from the earliest works to the most recent advances in the optical scanning microscopy field

Mueller Matrix Optical Scanning Architecture

Mueller Matrix Applications

Ophthalmology

Biomedical Diagnosis and Tissue Organization

Material Science

Conclusions