Spinning-Disk Microscope with optical Tweezer

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Understanding the mechanical principles governing the function of biological systems is a key goal of modern research. The importance of cell and tissue mechanics is fundamental for a quantitative description of the dynamical processes occurring during development and tissue formation but also in cancer. We use optical tweezers to perform simultaneous active and passive microrheology in single cells and tissue. In order to be able to assign the force generation as well as the viscoelastic properties to the different regions in adherent or mitotic cells, but also with embryonic loss as well as cancer spheroids or reconstituted muscle muscles, these have to be identified with a 3D fluorescence technique. We will couple an optical tweezer in the requested Spinning Disk microscope and the tweezers as well as the microscope will be piloted by a from self-written software. Besides microrheology, other projects will also make use of the rapid 3D capacity of the spinning disc microscope to measure substrate forces of individual cells and monolayers using 2.5D traction force microscopy. Of special interest are the traction force of cell migration in close confinement generated by a narrow gap. Using elastic hydrogel beads embedded in single cells or whole tissue, we can determine the mechanical tension in these systems. These elastic tension sensors promise new insights into the motion and force generation of reconstituted muscle tissue.