Brillouin microscopy – measuring mechanics in biology using light

Abstract

Mechanical properties of cells and tissues have been shown to play a crucial role in development and disease, but standard techniques for probing them are usually invasive and limited to the sample’s surface. In contrast, Brillouin microscopy is an emerging optical technique that enables non-contact measurement of viscoelastic properties of a material with diffraction-limited resolution in 3D. It exploits Brillouin scattering, the interaction between light and acoustic waves intrinsically present in any material due to thermal vibration. Here we introduce the underlying physical principles and discuss applications in biology and medicine.