Polish Metrology

Development of metrological foundations for biomedical measurements using selected methods of quantitative phase imaging

The main goal of the project is to propose a fully metrological approach to Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) in biomedical applications at the cellular level. The QPI methods analyzed in the project are: laser interferometry, digital holographic microscopy and optical diffraction tomography with holographic projections. The basic quantities subject to metrological analysis are: the phase of microobjects encoded in the recorded interferograms/holograms and the three-dimensional distribution of the refractive index. It is also planned to analyze the impact of the measurement uncertainty of these quantities on the related biophysical parameters used in biomedical research and diagnostics. The application significance of the developed methodology for determining the measurement uncertainty of the phase and the refractive index will be demonstrated on the example of determining the geometric parameters of cells and the density of dry matter and its change in eukaryotic cells forming a monolayer. These studies are planned to be conducted in the space-time system of diffusing chemical compounds with cytotoxic activity. The parameters of the transport of biologically active substances through the cell monolayer will be determined on the basis of the analysis of concentration profiles, related to phase and refractive index measurements. The obtained results, which are the basis for inferring the cytotoxic effects of the tested compounds, will be additionally verified using standard biological techniques.