Polarization microscope by single polarization modulation method: novel instrument for visualizing cytoskeleton

A novel and simplest polarization microscope by single polarization modulation method to visualize cytoskeletal structure in bio-cells have been developed. The polarization microscope visualizes cytoskeletal structure based on birefringence characteristics of cells. In the polarization microscope, a series of intensity images according to single modulation of rotating linear polarizer were obtained to visualize cytoskeletal structure. Phase retardation and principal axis orientation were calculated by analytic data processing from the acquired intensity images. Phase retardation and principal axis orientation of breast cancer cells, MCF 7 and MDA MB 231 were measured and visualized as their birefringence characteristics by the polarization microscope. Phase retardation sensitivity of the polarization microscope system also was measured in this paper.