Nanophotonics enhanced coverslip for phase imaging in biology

Visualization of biological cells is of fundamental importance in biology for scientific research and medical diagnostics. Conventional imaging techniques to visualize biological cells rely on expensive and bulky optical components, require additional chemical staining or cumbersome electronic post-processing. Australian scientists have recently demonstrated an ultra-compact, nanoengineered device that circumvents these limitations and enables phase-imaging of biological cells. The technique will open new avenues for future biological imaging methods and mobile medical diagnostic tools.