System and method employing photokinetic techniques in cell biology imaging applications
View Patent ↗A system and method employing photokinetic techniques in cell biology imaging applications are disclosed. Systems and methods of acquiring image data of an object may comprise: selectively inducing photoactivation of material at a site on the object; performing an optical axis integration scan; simultaneously executing a time delay integration scan sequence; and processing acquired image data in accordance with one or more desired analyses. Various methodologies and applications may include, inter alia, selective photobleaching of a site on the object, diffusion rate, velocity, and wave-front propagation analyses, multi-dimensional analyses of dispersion characteristics, biomolecular binding in cellular organelles, and photoactivation assisted systematic image segmentation for the study of cellular components.
1. A method of identifying a cellular structure; said method comprising:
selectively inducing photoactivation of material at a site on the cell;
observing dispersion of material activated responsive to said selectively inducing; and
responsive to said observing, analyzing wave-front propagation to identify a cellular structure.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said selectively inducing comprises delivering excitation illumination having a selected wavelength.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said delivering comprises pulsing said excitation illumination.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said delivering comprises selectively repeating said pulsing.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said observing comprises utilizing using wide-field imaging.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said observing comprises performing an optical axis integration scan and simultaneously executing a time delay integration scan sequence.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said analyzing comprises application of a Fourier Transform.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said analyzing comprises calculation of iso-velocity values from successive images of wave-front propagation.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said analyzing comprises quantification of anisotropic flow.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said quantification identifies the cellular structure.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said selectively inducing comprises activating a Green Fluorescent Protein variant.