Dresden 2006 – scientific programme

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AKB: Biologische Physik

AKB 40: Poster Session II

AKB 40.41: Poster

Wednesday, March 29, 2006, 16:30–19:30, P3

Optical manipulation of neuronal cells in 3D scaffolds — •Andreas Christ and Jochen Guck — Institut für Physik weicher Materie, Universität Leipzig, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig

Control of neuronal outgrowth is an important objective in neuroscience, cell biology and medicine. It already has been shown that this is possible in 2D by surface patterning or optically by gradient forces and in 3D environments by chemical gradients.

The aim of our research is to optically influence growth of neurites in a 3D scaffold. For this purpose we grow neuronal cells (NG-108) in fibrin gels and direct a non-focused low-power laserbeam into the region of cell growth. The gradient force exerted by the laser should pull the growth cone of neurites into the beam. The radiation pressure exerted by the laser on the growing neurite will then tend to direct the neurite into the direction of the beam propagation. This is confirmed by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy of the GFP-transfected cells.