Imaging the small with the small: Prospects for photonics in micro-endomicroscopy for minimally invasive cellular-resolution bioimaging

Many bioimaging studies, including those in engineered tissue constructs, intravital microscopy in animal models, and medical imaging in humans, require cellular-resolution imaging of structures deep within a sample. Yet, many of the current approaches are limited in terms of resolution, but also in invasiveness, repeatable imaging of the same location, and accessible imaging depth. We coin the term micro-endomicroscope to describe the emerging class of small, cellular-resolution endoscopic imaging systems designed to image cells in situ while minimizing perturbation of the sample. In this Perspective, we motivate the need for further development of micro-endomicroscopes, highlighting applications that would greatly benefit ...
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