Light-scattering by aggregates of tumor cells: Spectral, polarimetric, and angular measurements

•New electromagnetic and optical systems to characterize scattering media.•In-vitro label-free technique based on light-scattering.•Optical properties study of Multi-Cellular tumor Spheroids by non-imaging technique.•Hyperspectral polarimetric and angular light-scattering measurements.•Optical signatures using a white-light supercontinuum laser-based instrument.

The goal of this paper is to present an in-vitro label-free technique based on light-scattering to study optical properties of MultiCellular Tumor Spheroids (MCTS). Our non-imaging technique provides a complete optical signature from hyperspectral polarimetric and angular light-scattering measurements using a coherent white-light supercontinuum laser-based instrument. We perform measurements on MCTS to demonstrate the feasibility of the technique. We report the spectral and angular-dependence of the depolarization of scattered-light by MCTS. This is the first time that the hyperspectral, polarimetric, and angular light-scattering signature of MCTS is reported. This work may provide new insight for the future development of the growth and proliferation of tumor cells.