Combined confocal-rheology platform for studying ECM-cell interactions

Project Summary

Visualization of focal adhesions and cellular activity as a function of applied force by extracellular matrix (ECM) can provide crucial information about the cells response to mechanical manipulation and ultimately allows us to obtain more detailed understanding of mechanotransduction. The aim of this project is to develop a time resolved, 3D imaging and ultimately super resolution capable combined confocal microscope-rheometer setup, that can obtain simultaneous readout of response from single cells (fluorescence microscopy) and the visco-elastic properties (rheology) of ECM that surrounds the cells.