Enhancing resolution and contrast in second-harmonic generation microscopy using an advanced maximum likelihood estimation restoration method

Mayandi Sivaguru, Mohammad M. Kabir, Manas Ranjan Gartia, David S.C. Biggs, Barghav S. Sivaguru, Vignesh A. Sivaguru, Zachary T. Berent, Amy J. Wagoner Johnson, Glenn A. Fried, Gang Logan Liu, Sakthivel Sadayappan, Kimani C. Toussaint

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy is a label-free imaging technique to study collagenous materials in extracellular matrix environment with high resolution and contrast. However, like many other microscopy techniques, the actual spatial resolution achievable by SHG microscopy is reduced by out-of-focus blur and optical aberrations that degrade particularly the amplitude of the detectable higher spatial frequencies. Being a two-photon scattering process, it is challenging to define a point spread function (PSF) for the SHG imaging modality. As a result, in comparison with other two-photon imaging systems like two-photon fluorescence, it is difficult to apply any PSF-engineering techniques to enhance the experimental spatial resolution closer to the diffraction limit. Here, we present a method to improve the spatial resolution in SHG microscopy using an advanced maximum likelihood estimation (AdvMLE) algorithm to recover the otherwise degraded higher spatial frequencies in an SHG image. Through adaptation and iteration, the AdvMLE algorithm calculates an improved PSF for an SHG image and enhances the spatial resolution by decreasing the full-width-at-halfmaximum (FWHM) by ∼20%. Similar results are consistently observed for biological tissues with varying SHG sources, such as gold nanoparticles and collagen in porcine feet tendons. By obtaining an experimental transverse spatial resolution of ∼400 nm, we show that the AdvMLE algorithm brings the practical spatial resolution closer to the theoretical diffraction limit. Our approach is suitable for adaptation in micro-nano CT and MRI imaging, which has the potential to impact diagnosis and treatment of human diseases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMultiphoton Microscopy in the Biomedical Sciences XVII
EditorsKarsten Konig, Peter T. C. So, Ammasi Periasamy, Xiaoliang S. Xie
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510605794
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017
EventMultiphoton Microscopy in the Biomedical Sciences XVII - San Francisco, United States
Duration: Jan 29 2017Jan 31 2017

Publication series

NameProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume10069
ISSN (Print)1605-7422

Other

OtherMultiphoton Microscopy in the Biomedical Sciences XVII
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period1/29/171/31/17

Keywords

  • Advanced Maximum Likelihood Estimation
  • Porcine feet tendon
  • Restoration Method
  • Second Harmonic Generation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Biomaterials
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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