Date/Time Date(s) - 04/10/20233:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Location Physics and Astronomy Department
Guest: Dr. Danielle Tokarz Assistant Professor https://danielletokarz.wixsite.com/tokarzlab Saint Mary’s University
Title: Polarization Second Harmonic Generation Microscopy for Biomedical Applications
Abstract:
Information regarding the structure and function of living tissues and cells is instrumental to the advancement of biochemistry and biophysics. Nonlinear optical microscopy, in particular, second harmonic generation (SHG), can provide such information. For instance, SHG microscopy can be used to visualize several biological tissues while polarization-sensitive SHG imaging can be used to extract several parameters related to the ultrastructure of biological tissues. In this talk, I will discuss the use of polarization-resolved SHG microscopy to investigate the ultrastructure of collagen in diseased tissues as well as model systems to understand collagen disorganization in these tissues. I will also discuss the use of polarization-resolved SHG microscopy to investigate other biological tissues including the degradation of otoconia, inner ear calcite crystals which act as linear acceleration sensors.