Advanced microscopy techniques for biological imaging

We show that using phase and polarisation information in optical microscopy can provide new insights into biomolecular processes for biological functional imaging. Quantitative phase imaging is demonstrated in living cells with promising capabilities in terms of cells composition and morphology studies. Polarisation-resolved non-linear optical microscopy is described in tissues and lipid membranes with emphasis on the specific properties of two-photon excited fluorescence, Second Harmonic Generation and Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Imaging. These techniques, based on far field microscopy, provide new information at the molecular scale, complementary to more traditional fluorescence microscopy techniques.