Table of Contents
Modern laser systems in microscopy
Modern laser systems in microscopy allow researchers to discover how molecules within a cell react and interact when it comes to investigating tumor growth. Laser beam microscopy requires to be labeled with fluorescent substances that make them visible to researchers; however, it may misrepresent the molecule behavior. New microscopes based on fiber laser technology operate without the need to label the molecules.
Design of the new fiber laser microscope
A team of researchers from Germany and China designed a microscope that includes a unique compact fiber laser instead of the solid-state laser systems that used to be applied. The microscope based on fiber laser technology produces less noise than conventional designs, allowing them to be used in operating rooms.
Advantages of fiber laser microscopy
Label-free microscopy in biomedical research
Usually, staining with fluorescent markers can not be performed on in vivo tissues; label-free microscopy plays a crucial role in understanding how different new types of cells develop from stem cells, as well as in differentiating a tumor from normal tissue without staining. Fiber lasers allow researchers to operate without markers in the muscle tissue cells of the heart and liver, as well as other cells.
Comparison with solid-state laser systems
Advanced fiber laser systems find their wide application in optical nanomicroscopes, in which laser beam light is transmitted through glass fibers rather than through a solid body of crystal or glass. Previously, solid-state laser systems surpassed fiber lasers because of their higher power and less noise. Researchers used two synchronized optical resonators (laser beam cavities), the wavelengths of which were required to hit the specimen through the lens at the same time, resulting in challenging control of the whole process.
Practical benefits of the new system
The developed fiber laser microscope presents an essential benefit that includes easier operation than a conventional solid-state laser system. This fiber laser system is less subject to error, and the process becomes faster because it does not need to label the molecules. The prototype of the fiber laser microscope promotes the development of portable devices that can be applied in the operating room, for example, to mark tumor borders during an operation.
Future applications in medicine
The new fiber laser technology provides benefits for numerous biomedical applications, and the early detection of tumors is only one specific example of this. It is planned to employ the new fiber laser microscope in clinical applications in the near future, because preliminary studies have already been conducted and demonstrated amazing results.