Label-free mapping of subcellular dynamics using wide-field interferometric scattering microscopy and spectral exponent analysis

Abstract Interferometric scattering (iSCAT) microscopy combines label-free detection with nanometer-scale motion sensitivity. It captures temporal signal fluctuations from sub-diffraction movements of scatterers in live cells, including macromolecules and cell membranes. Here, we investigate label-free mapping of subcellular dynamics by calculating the power spectral density (PSD) of the iSCAT time series. Using a wide-field iSCAT, we observe an inverse-power-law relationship S ( f ) = βf − α over 30 - 1250 Hz in multiple cell types. We compute pixel-wise PSDs and obtain a color-coded spectral exponent map based on the fitted spectral exponent ( α ) and amplitude ( β ), which indicates the characteristics and strength of subcellular movements. We also incorporate the goodness-of-fit as color saturation to enhance the contrast of the spectral exponent map. Following this approach, we demonstrate label-free imaging of live cells while effectively distinguishing between benign and malignant thyroid cancer subtypes, mitotic and interphase cells, as well as live and apoptotic cells. Dynamic imaging using wide-field iSCAT provides an intrinsic, label-free marker of cellular states and mechanical properties, which may benefit studies in mechanobiology, cancer diagnostics, and stem cell therapies.