Label-free three-dimensional observations and quantitative characterisation of on-chip vasculogenesis using optical...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology
• Optical Physics

Background:

• Vasculogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is crucial for development and disease.
• Existing methods for observing vasculogenesis often require exogenous labels, which can interfere with biological processes.
• On-chip systems offer controlled environments for studying cellular dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a label-free, 3D imaging technique for observing on-chip vasculogenesis.
• To characterize the structural and dynamic aspects of vascular network formation using intrinsic imaging contrast.
• To analyze endothelial cell behavior and subcellular details during vasculogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized optical diffraction tomography (ODT) for high-resolution, 3D imaging.
• Employed 3D refractive index mapping as the intrinsic contrast mechanism.
• Performed quantitative analysis of vascular structures, cell activities, and organelles in real-time.

Main Results:

• Achieved label-free, quantitative 3D visualization of on-chip vasculogenesis.
• Successfully mapped vascular structures, multicellular interactions, and subcellular organelles of endothelial cells.
• Characterized the development and maturation of vascular networks without the need for exogenous labels.

Conclusions:

• Optical diffraction tomography provides a powerful label-free tool for studying complex biological processes like vasculogenesis.
• 3D refractive index mapping offers intrinsic contrast for detailed analysis of cellular and tissue development.
• This approach enables comprehensive characterization of vascular network formation and maturation in vitro.