The application of on-chip optofluidic microscopy for imaging Giardia lamblia trophozoites and cysts

Biomed Microdevices. 2009 Oct;11(5):951-8. doi: 10.1007/s10544-009-9312-x. Epub 2009 Apr 14.

Abstract

The optofluidic microscope (OFM) is a lensless, low-cost and highly compact on-chip device that can enable high-resolution microscopy imaging. The OFM performs imaging by flowing/scanning the target objects across a slanted hole array; by measuring the time-varying light transmission changes through the holes, we can then render images of the target objects at a resolution that is comparable to the holes' size. This paper reports the adaptation of the OFM for imaging Giardia lamblia trophozoites and cysts, a disease-causing parasite species that is commonly found in poor-quality water sources. We also describe our study of the impact of pressure-based flow and DC electrokinetic-based flow in controlling the flow motion of Giardia cysts--rotation-free translation of the parasite is important for good OFM image acquisition. Finally, we report the successful microscopy imaging of both Giardia trophozoites and cysts with an OFM that has a focal plane resolution of 0.8 microns.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Giardia lamblia / cytology*
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy / instrumentation*
  • Molecular Imaging / instrumentation*
  • Optical Devices*
  • Pressure
  • Trophozoites / cytology*