Analysis of cellular structure by light scattering measurements in a new cytometer design based on a liquid-core waveguide

The results of applying a novel microfluidic optical cytometer to generate and observe the light scattered from biological cells over a wide range of angles are presented. This cytometer incorporates a waveguide that increases the intensity of the scattered light to the extent that an inexpensive digital camera can be used to detect the light over a large solid angle. This device was applied to yeast cells and latex beads and experimental data were compared with the results of a finite difference time-domain (FDTD) method of simulation. The simulated scattering patterns were calculated from reported values of optical parameters and are in good qualitative agreement with experiment. It is demonstrated that this system could be used to acquire information on the microstructure and potentially the nanostructure of cells.