New 3D microscope technology captures high-resolution tissue images at a fraction of the cost

Key Points:

• A team led by Columbia University professor Raju Tomer developed HySIL (Hybrid Solid–Liquid Optics), a new microscope lens design that combines a solid lens with a matched immersion liquid to enable high-resolution, 3D imaging of centimeter-scale tissues at lower cost and complexity.
• The technology overcomes limitations of traditional oil-immersion lenses and cheaper air lenses, allowing for sharp imaging across various tissue preparation methods without hardware changes, demonstrated via modular devices SCOPE and Super-SCOPE integrated with existing light-sheet microscopes.
• Tested on diverse biological samples including whole brains of mice, salamanders, cavefish, lab-grown human brain tissues, and human cancer biopsies, HySIL-enabled microscopes facilitate neural circuit mapping, developmental studies, and advanced 3D pathology.
• The approach is compatible with multiple microscopy modalities and aims to democratize access to high-performance 3D imaging, supporting scalable AI applications for disease detection and prognosis in research and clinical settings.
• Columbia University has filed patents for these technologies, with collaboration from MBF Bioscience, which commercializes the compact pLSM-SCOPE system under the name SLICE, potentially transforming tissue analysis by providing comprehensive 3D tissue architecture views beyond traditional 2D slices.