Brillouin microscopy uses this scattering of light from sound waves to measure sample stiffness in 3D at microscopic scale, without requiring physical access. This permits measurement of sample stiffness in otherwise inaccessible places such as the interior of cells. The aim of this project is to develop a new type of Brillouin microscope, and establish its capacity for biomechanical experiments in the mechanical characterization of both extracellular matrices (ECM) and the mechanical variations within cells.
