In vivo mechano-microscopy: a discovery platform for cell mechanics

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This project aims to develop a platform for quantitative 3-D imaging of cell elasticity in tissue which may make possible new discoveries in cell mechanics. Mechanical properties, in concert with chemical properties, act to determine the function and behaviour of cells, and play a vital role in diseases such as cancer. Measurement of the mechanical properties of the cell in its native tissue environment, currently not possible, could accelerate the understanding of cell mechanics. This project plans to develop in vivo mechano-microscopy by combining innovations in optical microscopy, micro-mechanical loading, and computational methods. It then plans to demonstrate its capability by producing the first 3-D elasticity maps of skeletal muscle cells in living animals.