Progress in Stem Cell Research based on SLOT

07.10.2013 - (idw) Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.

The Laser Zentrum Hannover (LZH e.V.) is currently active in a project dealing with the tomographic monitoring of 3-D cell cultures consisting of pluripotent stem cells (hPSC). The Laser Zentrum Hannover (LZH e.V.) is currently active in a project dealing with the tomographic monitoring of 3-D cell cultures consisting of pluripotent stem cells (hPSC). The goal of the collaborative research project is, for the first time, to use Scanning Laser Optical Tomography (SLOT) for non-invasive, direct, quantitative compilation of the absolute number of cells in cultured, endogenous cell groups. The results of the project TOMOSphere should bring a better understanding of the physiology of hPSC and other stem cells, as well as a continuous control of their characteristics, making decisive progress in therapeutic concepts possible. For the investigations, SLOT-technology, which was developed and patented at the LZH, was used for the first time for the temporally and spatially resolved observation of native or fixed cells in three-dimensional aggregate structures. Knowledge gained from using this process can be used to classify and later to sort the aggregates, for example concerning heterogeneity of the cell structure, possible cyst formation, or the deposition of extracellular matrixes. Furthermore, conclusions concerning important process parameters for the cultivation of aggregates in stirred suspension cultures can be made, such as inoculation densities, the influence of the culture medium, or the maximum or optimal cell and aggregate density per ml of culture medium. In order to gather this information, the collaborative project is developing an incubation system based on SLOT for tomographic long-term investigations of tissue samples, combined with a wide spectrum of contrast methods. On the one hand, this process should enable marker-free identification of intrinsic cell and tissue specific characteristics, and on the other hand, provide a secondary contrast method using low molecular substances. For example, with this method, the fluctuation of NAD/NADH, cAMP, Ca2+ ions and their enrichments can be observed, or various states of cell cycles up to a programmed cell death can be verified. Further, it can be used to observe and analyze differential intra- or extracellular agglomerations, or to image different micro- and nanoparticles in cell aggregates.

Contact: Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) Lena Bennefeld Hollerithallee 8 D-30419 Hannover Tel.: +49 511 2788-238 Fax: +49 511 2788-100 E-Mail: l.bennefeld@lzh.de http://www.lzh.de

The Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) carries out research and development in the field of laser technology and is supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport of the State of Lower Saxony (Niederschsisches Ministerium fr Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Verkehr). You can find the LZH press releases with a WORD-download and when possible illustrations at http://www.lzh.de under "publications/press releases"

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Progress in Stem Cell Research based on SLOT