Long-term imaging and spatio-temporal control of living cells using targeted light based on closed-loop feedback

Area of Science:

• Biophotonics and Imaging
• Cell Biology
• Medical Engineering

Background:

• Optical interaction with cells is crucial for applications like wound healing and cancer therapy.
• Current systems for localized light control and cell visualization are often complex and expensive.
• The Dynamic Optical MicroEnvironment (DOME) is an existing platform for optical control of microscale agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt the DOME platform for enhanced live-cell imaging capabilities.
• To improve resolution, imaging channels, and light wavelength customization.
• To enable long-term imaging of living cells under controlled environmental conditions.

Main Methods:

• Modified the imaging and projection systems of the DOME platform.
• Integrated an interactive calibration procedure for hardware robustness.
• Enabled fluorescence imaging and customized light wavelength projection.

Main Results:

• Achieved significantly higher resolution and alternative imaging channels (Bio-DOME).
• Developed a fluorescence imaging capability (Fluoro-DOME) with an interactive calibration.
• The modified DOME system supports long-term use in high temperature and humidity.

Conclusions:

• The adapted DOME system (Bio-DOME/Fluoro-DOME) facilitates long-term live-cell imaging.
• Enables closed-loop control of real-time frontier illumination via projected light patterns.
• This advancement supports advanced research in wound healing and other cell-based therapies.