A Nature Communications paper published Oct. 30 reports a mid-infrared photothermal optical diffraction tomography system operating at 19.2 volumes per second. The researchers combined stronger single-frame photothermal signals with rapid illumination-angle switching and tracked lipid droplets in living cells. The demonstrated regime is single cells and thin samples; the paper does not claim deep-tissue or clinical performance.
GLOBAL IMAGING BRIEF
Analysis: Video-rate, label-free three-dimensional chemical contrast can reveal cell dynamics hidden by slower scans. Practical comparison needs sample-thickness limits, field of view, photothermal load and reconstruction cost alongside the headline volume rate.
Original source
Original source: Nature Communications research article published Oct. 30, DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-78699-z. Results are laboratory single-cell measurements.