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Project

Integrated photoacoustic and photothermal microscopy: towards non-contact, non-invasive, and multi-parametric assessment of cell mechanics

Mechanical forces act on us every day. Even the simplest physiological functions, e.g., respiration and circulation, require the generation of forces. Similarly, biological cells as building blocks of life are constantly subjected to mechanical forces, e.g., tension, shear, and compression. They can sense those forces and convert them into biological responses to perform normal functions. In the past decade, studies into the mechanics of cells have rapidly grown with significant implications for biotechnology and human health. For instance, cell and nuclear softening have been associated with DNA damage, cancer invasion, and tumour malignancy. This progress has largely been facilitated by new capabilities for mechanical assessment at the single-cell level.
This project envisages pioneering efforts to establish a photoacoustic and photothermal microscopy platform for non-contact, non-invasive, and multiparametric study of cell mechanics. We envision great potential to advance our current knowledge on cell rheology and its connection with cell structural biology. These breakthroughs will moreover open new paradigms for mechanics-informed disease diagnosis and drug efficacy test. In that regard, this project also aims at developing lab-on-chip instruments for disease diagnosis by coupling the developed platform with microfluidics technology.

Date:1 Oct 2021 →  31 Jul 2023
Keywords:Photoacoustic and photothermal phenomena, single-cell mechanics, cytoskeleton and cell rheology, photoacoustic flow cytometry
Disciplines:Acoustics and acoustical devices, waves, Rheology, Molecular and cellular biomechanics, Biophotonics, Cytoskeleton