We present an all-optical, label-free technology for quantitative, real-time cancer tissue diagnostics on a single, clinically-compatible chip. Periodically-arranged sub-wavelength dielectric nanostructures, known as metasurfaces, are patterned into dielectric layers on glass microscope coverslips, where biopsied tumor tissue sections can be deposited following routine clinical procedure. We numerically and experimentally map the anisotropy and orientation of collagen fibers, a quantitative marker of cancer stage in tissue, onto metasurface structural color. Working at the interface of nanoscale optics and medicine, our colorimetric metasurface platform has the potential to set a new benchmark for rapid, quantitative and cost-effective cancer tissue diagnostics.
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