Capturing cell morphology dynamics with high temporal resolution using single-shot quantitative phase gradient imaging.

Significance: Label-free quantitative phase imaging can potentially measure cellular dynamics with minimal perturbation, motivating efforts to develop faster and more sensitive instrumentation. We characterize fast, single-shot quantitative phase gradient microscopy (ss-QPGM) that simultaneously acquires multiple polarization components required to reconstruct phase images. We integrate a computationally efficient least squares algorithm to provide real-time, video-rate imaging (up to Aim: We aim to characterize a fast approach to ss-QPGM and record morphological changes in single-cell phase images. We also correlate these with biochemical changes indicating cell death using concurrently acquired fluorescence images. Approach: Here, we examine nutrient deprivation and anticancer drug-induced cell death in two different breast cell lines, Results: We validate the accuracy of the phase measurement using a USAF1951 pattern phase target. The ss-QPGM system resolves Conclusions: Label-free ss-QPGM with high-temporal resolution and high spatial fidelity is demonstrated. Its application for monitoring dynamic changes in live cells offers promising prospects.