Following the life of living cells by time lapse microscopy
Contacts:
Kristian Mølhave, DTU-Nanotech, 2512 6672 (kristian.molhave@nanotech.dtu.dk)
Joanna Lopacinska (joanna.lopacinska@nanotech.dtu.dk)
Introduction: Nanostructured surfaces are abundant in the natural environment of living cells where they help guiding cells to the right positions and make them perform the right functions in appropriate places. Artificial nanostructured surfaces have been shown to influence cell in many ways and this is a new research area we are pursuing across several groups at DTU-Nanotech.
Project goal: To make time-lapse microscope videos of cell cultures where we can follow the cells’ behaviour over days.
Description: First, we will teach you how to culture cells. In order to keep the cells alive while performing microscopy in the lab, they will be kept in a microfluidic cell culture system with growth media supply and temperature control. Such chambers must be fabricated and the existing systems can likely be improved. We have various nanostructured surfaces ready, and various cell lines such as neuron like PC-12 to culture on the surfaces.
To follow the cells development, an automated motorized microscope will take images every 10 min or so. We have made labview software for this, but control of the microscope and image analysis as images are acquired is needed.
Finally you can compare the cell behavior with standard models to understand how they behave.
Perspectives: This project will study a range of fundamental aspects of cell behavior of fundamental interest for cell biology and particularly for the understanding of how cells sense and interact with their surroundings. Joanna Lopacinska and Cristian Gradinaru, who are doing their PhD in this project, will be working along with you –the focus of your involvement very much depends on your preferences!