Characterization of a setup to test the impact of high-amplitude pressure waves on living cells
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Published on: September 18, 2017
Mischa Schmidt1, Ulf Kahlert2, Johanna Wessolleck3
11] Research Group "Shock Waves in Soft Biological Matter", Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI, Eckerstrasse 4, 79104 Freiburg, Germany [2] Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Neurocenter, University Medical Center Freiburg, Breisacher Straβe 64, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Abstract:
The impact of pressure waves on cells may provide several possible applications in biology and medicine including the direct killing of tumors, drug delivery or gene transfection. In this study we characterize the physical properties of mechanical pressure waves generated by a nanosecond laser pulse in a setup with well-defined cell culture conditions. To systematically characterize the system on the relevant length and time scales (micrometers and nanoseconds) we use photon Doppler velocimetry (PDV) and obtain velocity profiles of the cell culture vessel at the passage of the pressure wave. These profiles serve as input for numerical pressure wave simulations that help to further quantify the pressure conditions on the cellular length scale. On the biological level we demonstrate killing of glioblastoma cells and quantify experimentally the pressure threshold for cell destruction.
