SLM-Based System for Localized Targeted Irradiation of Cells and Noninvasive Monitoring of Cell Death

Andrey V. Belashov orcid
Ioffe Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Anna A. Zhikhoreva orcid (Login required)
Ioffe Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Maxim V. Belashov orcid
Ioffe Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Anna V. Salova orcid
Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Tatiana N. Belyaeva
Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Ilia K. Litvinov orcid
Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Elena S. Kornilova orcid
Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Irina V. Semenova orcid
Ioffe Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation


Paper #9486 received 23 Jan 2026; revised manuscript received 15 Apr 2026; accepted for publication 20 Apr 2026; published online 9 June 2026.

DOI: 10.18287/JBPE26.12.020307

Abstract

The paper presents the development and validation of an experimental technique enabling localized targeted photodynamic treatment at subcellular level and further noninvasive monitoring of variations in cell morphology using low-coherence holographic microscopy realized in the configuration of spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM). The key element of the setup is spatial light modulator (LCOS SLM) which enabled both the targeted irradiation and continuous quantitative monitoring of cell response. To confirm the reconstruction accuracy of phase images of microscopic objects, a test sample comprising a set of polystyrene microspheres was analyzed. Targeted photodynamic treatment was tested by localized irradiation of HeLa cells photosensitized with Radachlorin. Irradiation of cells triggered their death by apoptosis and necrosis. SLIM-assisted monitoring of cells provided quantitative data on the dynamics of changes in their morphological parameters caused by treatment.

Keywords

spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM); spatial light modulator (LCOS SLM); localized irradiation; targeted photodynamic treatment; photosensitizer; Radachlorin; apoptosis; necrosis

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References


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