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Three‐ and four‐dimensional visualization of cell migration using optical coherence tomography
Author(s) -
Rey Sara M.,
Považay Boris,
Hofer Bernd,
Unterhuber Angelika,
Hermann Boris,
Harwood Adrian,
Drexler Wolfgang
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of biophotonics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.877
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1864-0648
pISSN - 1864-063X
DOI - 10.1002/jbio.200910027
Subject(s) - optical coherence tomography , visualization , tomography , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , computer science , computer graphics (images) , optics , physics , artificial intelligence , quantum mechanics
Conventionally, cell chemotaxis is studied on two‐dimensional (2D) transparent surfaces, due to limitations in optical and image data‐collection techniques. However, surfaces that more closely mimic the natural environment of cells are often opaque. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive label‐free imaging technique, which offers the potential to visualize moving cells on opaque surfaces and in three dimensions (3D). Here, we demonstrate that OCT is an effective means of time‐lapse videomicroscopy of Dictyostelium cells undergoing 3D (2D+time) cell migration on nitrocellulose substrates and 4D (3D+time) chemotaxis within low‐density agarose gels. The generated image sequences are compatible with current computer‐based image‐analysis software for quantification of cell motility. This demonstrates the utility of OCT for cell tracking and analysis of cell chemotaxis in complex environments. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)