Accessible quantitative phase imaging in confocal microscopy with sinusoidal-phase synthetic optical holography

We present a technically simple implementation of quantitative phase imaging in confocal microscopy based on synthetic optical holography with sinusoidal-phase reference waves. Using a Mirau interference objective and low-amplitude vertical sample vibration with a piezo-controlled stage, we record synthetic holograms on commercial confocal microscope (Nikon, model: A1R; Zeiss: model: LSM-880), from which quantitative phase images are reconstructed. We demonstrate our technique by stain-free imaging of cervical (HeLa), ovarian (ES-2) cancer cells and stem cell (mHAT9a) samples. Our technique has the potential to extend fluorescence imaging applications in confocal microscopy by providing label-free cell finding, monitoring cell morphology as well as non-perturbing long-time observation of live cells based on quantitative phase contrast.