Shear stimulated Brillouin microscopy for cell mechanobiology in 3D Microenvironments

Funding: 2019: $170,000
2020: $135,000
2021: $30,000

Project Member(s): Kabakova, I., Oliver, B.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Research Council (ARC Discovery Projects)
Australian Research Council (ARC Discovery Projects)

Start year: 2019

Summary: Shear stimulated Brillouin microscopy for cell mechanobiology. This project aims to develop novel technology for non-contact imaging of micro-mechanical properties in cells and tissues to answer fundamental questions of cell mechnanobiology. Based on principles of Brillouin light scattering, the project takes advantage of a radio-frequency lock-in detection scheme. The project will result in a real-time, high-sensitivity, non-contact 3D imaging solution for spatial characterisation of cell's local stiffness and compressibility. This will underpin the advancement of knowledge in the area of cell mechanobiology and the investigation of diseases, where microscale changes in cell mechanical properties lead to cell dysfunction and apoptosis.

Publications:

Poon, C, Chou, J, Cortie, M & Kabakova, I 2020, 'Brillouin imaging for studies of micromechanics in biology and biomedicine: from current state-of-the-art to future clinical translation', Journal of Physics: Photonics, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 1-25.
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Wu, P-J, Masouleh, MI, Dini, D, Paterson, C, Torok, P, Overby, DR & Kabakova, IV 2018, 'Detection of Proteoglycan Loss from Articular Cartilage using Brillouin Microscopy, with Applications to Osteoarthritis', Biomedical Optics Express, vol. 10, no. 5, pp. 2457-2466.
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FOR Codes: Cellular Interactions (incl. Adhesion, Matrix, Cell Wall), Biological Physics, Nonlinear Optics and Spectroscopy, Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences, Expanding Knowledge in the Physical Sciences, Cellular interactions (incl. adhesion, matrix, cell wall)

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.