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xhtmlAbstract
Quantitative three-dimensional (3D) imaging microscopy is an important tool for studying structural relationships among bio-molecules labelled inside single living cells. However, the current "state-of-the-art" techniques, albeit powerful, are subject to systematic artefacts arising at the level of acquisition and image-processing.
Furthermore, they are inflexible, inasmuch as cell samples must be adherently stabilised on an optically transparent surface, thereby precluding many important non-adherent cell types (e.g. lymphocytes).
To overcome this problem we adapted a cell-manipulator technology (combining dielectric-field-microelectrodes and micro-fluidics) in order to enable individual, non-adherent cells to be immobilised in suspension, and then rotated smoothly around a fixed focal plane, in a z-axis vector.
Without any image-processing our device yields 3D-movies characterised by three-fold superior 3D-spatial resolution, and a diminution of optical artefacts.
Combined with super -high-speed imaging modalities, further development of cell-rotator technology promises enormous potential for the future design of high-content/high-throughput cellular imaging aimed at automated multi-dimensional, microstructure analysis.
