Nonlinear bio‐photonic crystal effects revealed with multimodal nonlinear microscopy

• Published in: Journal of microscopy (Oxford) Vol. 208; no. 3; pp. 190 - 200
• Main Authors: Chu, S.‐W., Chen, I.‐H., Liu, T.‐M., Sun, C.‐K., Lee, S.‐P., Lin, B.‐L., Cheng, P.‐C., Kuo, M.‐X., Lin, D.‐J., Liu, H.‐L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-12-2002
• Subjects: Animals; Brain; Cell Physiological Phenomena; Cells - ultrastructure; Cr: forsterite laser; Crystallization; Humans; Mice; Microscopy, Confocal - instrumentation; Microscopy, Confocal - methods; multiphoton process; Muscle, Skeletal - ultrastructure; Nonlinear Dynamics; nonlinear microscopy; Optics and Photonics; photonic crystal; Photons; Plant Cells; second‐harmonic generation; Skin; Swine; third harmonic generation
• ISSN: 0022-2720; 1365-2818
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2818.2002.01081.x

Summary
Highly optically active nonlinear bio‐photonic crystalline and semicrystalline structures in living cells were studied by a novel multimodal nonlinear microscopy. Numerous biological structures, including stacked membranes and aligned protein structures are highly organized on a nanoscale and have been found to exhibit strong optical activities through second‐harmonic generation (SHG) interactions, behaving similarly to man‐made nonlinear photonic crystals. The microscopic technology used in this study is based on a combination of different imaging modes including SHG, third‐harmonic generation, and multiphoton‐induced fluorescence. With no energy release during harmonic generation processes, the nonlinear‐photonic‐crystal‐like SHG activity is useful for investigating the dynamics of structure–function relationships at subcellular levels and is ideal for studying living cells, as minimal or no preparation is required.