Applications of Imaging Interferometry

摘要

Here we report application of imaging interferometry to the study of nanomechanical motion in biosensors and living biological systems. Using strobed interferometric microscopy we are able to probe the dynamic behavior of individual (100 x 500 x 1 micron) cantilevers in an eight cantilever array over frequencies from 0-1 MHz. In a related approach, we have developed an interferometric method to measure cell-specific mechanical signals in real time. This yields real-time diagnostic information about cell structure, metabolism and movement, along with response to chemical and physical stimuli. Our new approach makes use of "nanomirrors" fixed to the cell membrane. These mirrors act as nanoscopic displacement probes and can be interrogated, rapidly, by optical profiling metrology.