A convenient technique for live-cell observation on the surface of polytetrafluoroethylene with a phase-contrast microscope

摘要

Phase-contrast microscopy is a convenient technique for live-cell observation on the surface of materials with high optical transmittance. Here, we demonstrate a novel technique to observe living cells on the surface of materials with low optical transmittance, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which are widely used in biomaterials for bloodcontacting devices. The surface of a cover glass was coated with a thin PTFE layer with sufficient transmittance, thereby enabling the observation of living cells on the PTFE surface with a phase-contrast microscope.