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Digital holographic (DH) microscopy is a unique noninvasive method to analyze living cells. With DH microscopy, in vitro cell cultures can be imaged in 2D and pseudo-3D and measurements of size and morphology of the cells are provided. Here, a description of a novel methodology utilizing DH microscopy for the analysis of spheroids is presented. A cell culture protocol is introduced and morphological parameters of cell spheroids as measured by DH microscopy are presented. The study confirms the use of DH microscopy for the analysis of cell spheroids. In the future, organoids can be analyzed with DH microscopy, and it can also be used for drug response and cell death analyses.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are currently widely used and further developed for biological applications. The MIP synthesis procedure is a key process, and a wide variety of protocols exist. The templates that are used for imprinting vary from the smallest glycosylated glycan structures or even amino acids to whole proteins or bacteria. The low cost, quick preparation, stability and reproducibility have been highlighted as advantages of MIPs. The biological applications utilizing MIPs discussed here include enzyme-linked assays, sensors, in vivo applications, drug delivery, cancer diagnostics and more. Indeed, there are numerous examples of how MIPs can be used as recognition elements similar to natural antibodies.