On-Chip Holographic Microscopy For High-Throughout Bioimaging.*

On-chip digital holographic microscopy is an innovative interferometric imaging technique, that provides a cost-effective, compact alternative to conventional optical microscopy, and offers a wide field of view, enabling high-throughput imaging for various applications. In this type of microscopy, the images are digitally reconstructed from holograms by leveraging the interference between the transmitted light and the wave scattered by the semi-transparent sample. A partially coherent light source illuminates the sample, while a CMOS imaging chip positioned within 1 mm captures the transmitted holograms. These holograms are then digitally backpropagated to the object plane, enabling the reconstruction of high-resolution images. This interferometric technique allows for the retrieval of both amplitude and phase information, providing a comprehensive view of the sample's optical properties. Here, we demonstrate the versatility of on-chip microscopy for visualizing live cancer cells to study dynamic processes during chemotherapy, as well as imaging cotton fibers to analyze key properties such as maturity and fineness. The wide field of view enables imaging of thousands of live cells at a time and its compact design facilitates seamless operations inside the incubator for live-cell imaging. With its portability and cost-effectiveness, on-chip digital holographic microscopy is an invaluable tool for point-of-care applications, such as disease diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and prevention, particularly in remote or resource-limited settings.