Low-Coherence Dynamic Light Scattering and its Potential for Measuring Cell Dynamics

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy is a powerful technique for studying the structures and dynamics of living cells. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is also used to study dynamic characteristics and it has the potential to measure cell dynamics. However, it is difficult to apply DLS to highly scattering media. In this article, we review low-coherence dynamic light scattering (LC-DLS). It strongly suppresses the influence of multiple scattering and has a greater potential for measuring cell dynamics than conventional DLS. The properties of LC-DLS are described theoretically and experimentally. Measurement of the diffusion coefficients of macromolecules in turbid media and interparticle and molecular interactions by LC-DLS is demonstrated. Keywords: Dynamic light scattering, photon correlation spectroscopy, low-coherence interferometry, diffusion coefficient, particle sizing, particle-particle interaction, Fluorescence correlation, cell dynamics, nucleic acids, living cells, Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), Atomic force microscopy, biological cells, Cells