An Integrated Incubator-Microscope for Cell Manipulation and Measurement

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Cell manipulation and measurement enable the discovery of fundamental mechanisms (e.g., mechanotransduction and cell-cell communication) and practical applications (e.g., drug screen for therapeutics). The experiments involve robotic cell manipulation, time-lapsed cell imaging, and electrical/mechanical characterization of cells, and are performed over a period from hours to weeks, during which strict control of the experimental atmosphere (temperature, CO2, and humidity) is critical for ensuring proper cell status and the validity of data. This RTI application requests an incubator-microscope, which will be integrated with our custom-developed robotic cell manipulation system components and several enabling microdevice arrays under development by this team of applicants, forming a unique platform to maintain tight environmental conditions during long-term time-lapsed cell imaging, biophysical cell measurement, robotic cell manipulation, and mechanical/electrical stimulation of cell culture. The integrated instrument will enable this team of researchers to develop and validate innovative robotics and microdevice technologies and employ these technologies to make new discoveries. With the integrated instrument, we will pursue robotic cell manipulation for high-throughput gap junction function measurement on cardiomyocytes and drug screen; cell biophysics for characterizing cardiomyocytes’ beating rate, rhythm, and contractility; and dynamic mechanical stimulation and feedback control of tissue formation with desired tissue properties. Our HQPs will use the requested equipment to build and operate their innovative systems and devices and gather valid cell data and system/device performance metrics. The equipment will be used to train a high number of postdocs and graduate students who will gain skills in micro-nanotechnologies, biomedical instrumentation, clinical cardiology, cell physics, and mechanobiology.