4D monitoring of stem cell differentiation by dielectric spectroscopic optical coherence tomography
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine
Abstract
In the recent years the therapeutic potential of stem cells has been recognized multilaterally. Still, the means to monitor their differentiation into different lineages are tedious and destructive precluding dynamic studies of 3D tissue regeneration. In this project, we propose to develop an imaging technology without biological labelling agents to monitor in time and space (4D) differentiating stem cell at a single-cell level. Every cell line has a bioelectrical signature that translates the response of a cell to a frequency dependent electro-magnetic field related to the proteins content of the cell membrane and cytoplasm. This bioelectrical signature is already exploited in dielectric spectroscopy and dielectrophoresis for cell sorting. A differentiating stem cell has a dynamic signature according to its various differentiation states. The biological mechanisms involved during EMF excitation generate also a change of the scattering properties of the cell by the reorganization of the cell components. This variation of the optical properties will be exploited to monitor in 3D at the single-cell level stem cell differentiation by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). OCT is a non invasive interferometric technique allowing in depth tissue imaging without labelling agent. Recent advances in OCT enables phase microscopy with nanometer resolution on the sample optical path. By synchronising a dielectric spectroscopic system with an OCT we will record a frequency dependent optical signature (FDOS) and will correlate it to differentiating event in 2D and 3D. Commercially adipose derived stem cells (ADSC) will be differentiated into three different lineages (bone, cartilage, adipose tissue) according to well established protocols in 2D culture plate and in commercial alginate matrixes supporting 3D culture. The multimodality of the new imaging technology (DSOCT) will be used to record differentiating events (optical, dielectric, and their combination (FDOS)) in real time. The sensitivity of the DSOCT will also be tested in collaboration with Dr. Hay by differentiating hESC into liver cells at three different developmental stages: mesendoderm, endoderm and hepatic endoderm. The new imaging technology ability to track various developmental stages of stem cell differentiation continuously and non invasively at the single-cell level without labelling agents will lead to many breakthroughs in regenerative medicine.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Pierre Bagnaninchi (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Bagnaninchi PO
(2011)
Real-time label-free monitoring of adipose-derived stem cell differentiation with electric cell-substrate impedance sensing.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Bagnaninchi PO
(2011)
Two-dimensional and three-dimensional viability measurements of adult stem cells with optical coherence phase microscopy.
in Journal of biomedical optics
Holmes C
(2015)
Motility imaging via optical coherence phase microscopy enables label-free monitoring of tissue growth and viability in 3D tissue-engineering scaffolds.
in Journal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
Pierre Bagnaninchi
(2011)
Measurements of adipose derived stem cell vitality with optical coherence phase microscopy
Description | We have shown that stem cells acquired distinct dielectric properties throughout their differentiation. |
Exploitation Route | Stem cell distinct dielectric properties can be harnessed to develop new technologies to monitor, sort or control stem cells to advance regenerative medicine |
Sectors | Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
URL | http://www.pnas.org/content/108/16/6462.abstract |
Description | The method to monitor in real time and non invasively stem cell differentiation with impedance sensing have been adopted by other research labs post publication in the proceeding of the national academy of science of the USA. |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Impact Types | Societal |
Title | Impedance sensing for stem cell research |
Description | Impedance sensing is being adopted as an enabling technology for stem cell research based on a key finding showing the emergence of characteristic dielectric properties throughout differentiation (see Bagnaninchi, PNAS,2011). |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Since our paper in PNAS many other groups across the world have investigated impedance sensing for stem cell research. Discrimination of additional cell lineage with this technology have been reported. It is currently being investigated as an enabling technology to help scaling up stem cell production by providing real-time and nondestructive assessment of cell differentiation |
Title | Optical coherence phase microscopy for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine |
Description | A optical coherence phase microscope has been built and is available to other researchers at the University of Edinburgh. International collaborators are using the equipment to measure cell viability in 3D tissue engineering scaffolds (McGill University, Canada), and to monitor tumor spheroids (Ian wark institute, Australia). |
Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
Year Produced | 2011 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This tools has been used to assess cell viability for tissue engineering applications in the University of Edinburgh, and with national (Keele University, EPSRC centre for innovative manufacturing in regenerative medicine) and international collaborators (Prof. Tabrizian McGill Univeristy, Ass. Prof. Thierry, Australia) |