Dresden 2006 – scientific programme

Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Downloads | Help

AKB: Biologische Physik

AKB 25: Cell Mechanics I

AKB 25.12: Talk

Thursday, March 30, 2006, 17:45–18:00, ZEU 260

Cell Characterization by Optical Deformability — •Stefan Schinkinger, Falk Wottawah, Bryan Lincoln, Franziska Lautenschlaeger, and Jochen Guck — Universitaet Leipzig; Institut fuer Experimentelle Physik I, Abt. PWM; Linnestrasse 5, 04103 Leipzig

In an optical stretcher, infrared laser light is used to exert surface stress on biological cells, causing an elongation of the trapped cell body along the laser beam axis. These optically induced deformations allow rheological measurements of individual cells and characterization by their optical deformability. Analyzing the deformation behavior of various cancer cell lines and primary stem cells, significant differences in axial elongation to control populations, even for small sample sizes, are measurable. It is shown that differentiation of stem cells and functional de-differentiation in different states of cancer progression allows to be classified with the optical stretcher, as functional and mechanical properties are strongly connected. When integrated within a microfluidic chamber delivering cells into the trap high throughput rates are possible. That way this technique allows measurement of statistically significant numbers of cells within short time. This enables for diagnosis of diseases, on a cellular level, that are associated with cytoskeletal processes. Additionally, the characterization of differentiation states during cell maturation ultimately allows sorting of cells with high accuracy in a non-contact manner.