Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Subcellular Fractionation01:32

Subcellular Fractionation

8.7K
The homogenate obtained after cell lysis contains various membrane-bound organelles that can be further separated into pure fractions by subcellular fractionation. These isolates are used to study specific cellular components, analyze localized protein activity, and are even employed in diagnostics. Fractionation is typically achieved using centrifugation methods, the most common being density-gradient and differential centrifugation.
Differential Centrifugation
Differential centrifugation is...
8.7K
Plant Cells and Tissues02:01

Plant Cells and Tissues

65.3K
Plant tissues are collections of similar cells performing related functions. Different plant tissues will have their own specialized roles and can be combined with other tissues to form organs such as flowers, fruit, stem, and leaves. Two major types of plant tissue include meristematic and permanent tissue.
65.3K
Components of Stress01:23

Components of Stress

509
Stress analysis under multiple loading conditions is intricate, necessitating a comprehensive grasp of normal and shearing stresses. Consider a small cube at point O, subjected to stress on all six faces, visible or not. Normal stress components σx, σy, σz act perpendicularly to the x, y, and z axes. Shearing stress components τxy and τxz are exerted on faces perpendicular to these axes.
Interestingly, the hidden cube faces also experience these stresses, equal and...
509
Components of Language01:24

Components of Language

776
Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs.
776
Structure of Lipids03:38

Structure of Lipids

98.4K
Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic...
98.4K
Additional Subnuclear Structures02:10

Additional Subnuclear Structures

5.3K
The eukaryotic nucleus is a double membrane-bound organelle that contains nearly all of the cell’s genetic material in the form of chromosomes. It is rightly called the “brain” of the cell as it shoulders the responsibility of responding to various physiological processes, stress, altered metabolic conditions, and other cellular signals. 
The nucleus contains many membrane-less subnuclear organelles or nuclear bodies, such as nucleoli, Cajal bodies, speckles,...
5.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Gut microbiota-derived extracellular vesicles: bridging microbial-host crosstalk in metabolic disorders.

Cell communication and signaling : CCS·2026
Same author

Immunotherapy-based combination remodels the immunosuppressive microenvironment and enhances efficacy in advanced SMARCA4-deficient non-small cell lung cancer.

Cancer letters·2026
Same author

Dynamic Single-Binding Event Profiling With on-Chip Microlenses for Wash-Free Digital Biosensing.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026
Same author

Modeling and Simulation of Mass Transfer in Food Processing: Recent Advances in Governing Equations, Workflow, and Applications.

Foods (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

P2Y12-AMPKα2 signaling contributes to cardiomyocyte senescence in doxorubicin-induced heart failure.

Molecular and cellular biochemistry·2026
Same author

Development and validation of a novel prognostic and for osteosarcoma patients utilizing multiple organelle related genes.

Discover oncology·2026
Same journal

Correction: Kang et al. Fluid Flow to Electricity: Capturing Flow-Induced Vibrations with Micro-Electromechanical-System-Based Piezoelectric Energy Harvester. <i>Micromachines</i> 2024, <i>15</i>, 581.

Micromachines·2026
Same journal

Femtosecond Laser Texturing of Wood Coatings with Bio-Based Epoxy and Wax Additives for Enhanced Hydrophobicity.

Micromachines·2026
Same journal

Engineering of Optoelectronic Devices for Renewable Energy Applications.

Micromachines·2026
Same journal

Phase Transformation and Electrochemical Behavior of Hexagonal TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanotubes Under Different Annealing Temperatures and Heating Rates.

Micromachines·2026
Same journal

Process Optimization and Predictive Modeling of Femtosecond Laser Precision Milling for Commercial PMMA Slices.

Micromachines·2026
Same journal

A Hybrid Preprocessing Multi-Objective Surrogate Model for Thermal MEMS Actuators.

Micromachines·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Imaging Subcellular Structures in the Living Zebrafish Embryo
11:19

Imaging Subcellular Structures in the Living Zebrafish Embryo

Published on: April 2, 2016

12.3K

Micro-optical Components for Bioimaging on Tissues, Cells and Subcellular Structures.

Hui Yang1, Yi Zhang2, Sihui Chen3

  • 1Laboratory of Biomedical Microsystems and Nano Devices, Bionic Sensing and Intelligence Center, Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China. hui.yang@siat.ac.cn.

Micromachines
|June 29, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This article reviews how tiny, integrated optical parts are changing biological imaging. By shrinking these systems, researchers can now observe cells and tissues in more flexible ways, including at the point of care. The authors explain how these components are made and how they are used in both lab-grown samples and living organisms.

Keywords:
bioimagingin vitroin vivomicro-opticsmicroelectromechanical systems (MEMS)microtechnologyminiaturized opticsoptical microscopypoint-of-care diagnosticsintegrated imaging systems

Frequently Asked Questions

More Related Videos

Subcellular Fractionation for the Isolation of Synaptic Components from the Murine Brain
12:14

Subcellular Fractionation for the Isolation of Synaptic Components from the Murine Brain

Published on: September 14, 2022

7.9K
Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers
09:56

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 31, 2021

5.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Imaging Subcellular Structures in the Living Zebrafish Embryo
11:19

Imaging Subcellular Structures in the Living Zebrafish Embryo

Published on: April 2, 2016

12.3K
Subcellular Fractionation for the Isolation of Synaptic Components from the Murine Brain
12:14

Subcellular Fractionation for the Isolation of Synaptic Components from the Murine Brain

Published on: September 14, 2022

7.9K
Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers
09:56

Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 31, 2021

5.5K

Area of Science:

  • Bioengineering and micro-optical components research within biomedical optics
  • Advanced microscopy and imaging technology development

Background:

No prior work had resolved the limitations of bulky traditional microscopes for portable diagnostic settings. That uncertainty drove the exploration of miniaturized systems for biological observation. It was already known that optical microscopy remains the primary tool for studying cellular structures. However, integrating these complex systems into small devices presents significant engineering hurdles. This gap motivated the development of specialized micro-scale hardware for enhanced imaging performance. Prior research has shown that microtechnology offers a pathway to overcome these physical constraints. Scientists have long sought ways to bring high-resolution imaging directly to the point of care. These efforts aim to bridge the divide between laboratory-grade equipment and field-ready diagnostic tools.

Purpose Of The Study:

This review aims to introduce the fundamental building blocks and manufacturing methods for miniaturized optical systems. The authors address the need for portable imaging solutions in modern biological research. They seek to clarify how these tiny components are assembled into integrated devices for practical use. The study explores the specific challenges associated with imaging living forms at the subcellular level. By examining current developments, the researchers intend to provide a comprehensive overview of the field. They focus on the transition from large-scale laboratory microscopes to compact, field-ready instruments. This work also investigates the distinct requirements for in vitro versus in vivo imaging applications. The primary motivation is to synthesize existing knowledge to guide future innovation in optical technology.

Main Methods:

The review approach synthesizes current literature regarding the design of miniaturized imaging hardware. Authors evaluate various manufacturing processes used to produce these tiny optical elements. The investigation focuses on how individual parts are assembled into cohesive, functional systems. Researchers categorize these technologies based on their application in either laboratory or living environments. This survey includes an assessment of existing integrated platforms currently used in scientific studies. The authors compare different fabrication strategies to identify common trends in the field. They examine how these systems handle biological data acquisition from diverse cellular structures. The study provides a structured overview of the technical landscape surrounding modern optical miniaturization.

Main Results:

Key findings from the literature indicate that micro-optical systems are increasingly capable of replacing bulky traditional equipment. The review demonstrates that these integrated tools successfully capture biological information from cells and tissues. Evidence shows that fabrication technologies have advanced enough to support complex, miniaturized optical architectures. The authors report that these systems are now viable for both in vitro and in vivo applications. Findings suggest that the integration of these components facilitates new diagnostic possibilities at the point of care. The literature confirms that miniaturization does not preclude the observation of intricate subcellular structures. Data synthesized by the team highlights a clear trend toward more portable and efficient imaging solutions. These results underscore the growing maturity of micro-scale optical engineering in biological research.

Conclusions:

The authors suggest that miniaturized hardware will continue to transform how biological data is captured. Future progress depends on refining fabrication techniques to improve system integration. They propose that these tools will become increasingly common in point-of-care settings. The review highlights that both lab-based and living-subject imaging will benefit from these advancements. Perspectives shared indicate that current designs are only the beginning of a broader technological shift. The team expects that new manufacturing methods will solve existing performance bottlenecks. Their synthesis implies that smaller footprints do not necessarily require sacrificing image quality. The analysis concludes that micro-optical systems represent a promising frontier for modern diagnostic medicine.

The authors propose that miniaturized hardware improves imaging by allowing for integrated, portable systems. Unlike traditional, bulky microscopes, these micro-optical components enable point-of-care diagnostics by reducing the physical footprint of the imaging apparatus.

Researchers utilize various micro-fabrication technologies to create these systems. These methods allow for the precise construction of lenses and sensors that are small enough to be integrated into compact, functional imaging devices.

The authors state that miniaturization is necessary to provide new solutions for point-of-care applications. While standard microscopes are effective in controlled labs, they lack the portability required for field diagnostics, making smaller components a technical requirement.

These components function as the building blocks for integrated optical systems. By serving as the core hardware, they enable the acquisition of biological information from both living cells and complex tissue structures.

The review measures the effectiveness of these systems by their ability to observe tissues, cells, and biomolecules. This phenomenon is evaluated across both in vitro lab settings and in vivo living environments.

The researchers propose that future advancements will rely on the continued evolution of integrated optical platforms. They suggest that these developments will eventually lead to more versatile and accessible imaging solutions for clinical use.