About This Webinar
The interaction between photons and acoustic phonons within materials, first described by Leon Brillouin, has been widely investigated to characterize the mechanical and physical properties of samples. To translate this technology to biomedical applications in which mechanical properties are often critical, Giuliano Scarcelli’s lab has developed high-resolution spectrometers at high throughput and combined them with optical microscopes to yield 3D-imaging modalities that use label-free biophysical properties as contrast mechanisms for imaging.
Their first area of application has been in ophthalmology as the loss of corneal strength leads to ectasia and is a major risk factor for refractive surgery complications. To address this issue, the lab has developed an in vivo Brillouin ophthalmoscope, and encouraging data shows that ectatic corneas can be differentiated and the outcome of emerging treatments can be characterized. Recently the researchers demonstrated increased Brillouin microscopy resolution to characterize intracellular modulus and they developed a flow cytometry platform to rapidly characterize cells based on their mechanical properties. To conclude the presentation, Scarcelli discusses the physics behind the interpretation of Brillouin spectral signatures in the context of soft matter such as cells and tissues.
Who should attend:
Researchers, scientists, laboratory technicians, clinicians who work with Brillouin microscopy. Those who use optics and imaging techniques in their research or in laboratory settings. Anyone who works in biophotonics, cancer research, medicine, imaging, bioengineering, or optical design.
About the presenter:
Giuliano Scarcelli, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the University of Maryland in the bioengineering department and the biophysics program. Scarcelli obtained his doctorate in quantum optics with a European Union-funded graduate fellowship between the University of Bari in Italy and the University of Maryland. He then was at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine of Harvard Medical School for eight years, first as a postdoctoral student in Professor Yun's lab, then as an instructor and assistant professor. He joined the University of Maryland in 2015. Scarcelli has been the recipient of several awards, such as the “Exceptional by Example” award for outstanding doctoral studies, the Tosteson Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard, the Human Frontier Science Program Young Investigator Award, the NIH Quantitative Career Award, the NSF CAREER award, and “Teaching Excellence” awards from both Harvard University and the University of Maryland.
About the sponsor:
LightMachinery is highly experienced in the areas of optical design, high power lasers, optical fabrication, laser systems, metrology, thin film coatings and custom machinery fabrication. They have produced components and equipment for customers throughout the world involved in space science, telecommunications, semiconductor, high power lasers, academic research, nondestructive testing, biophotonics, electronics, pharmaceutical manufacturing and materials processing.