Controlling cell shape through light: new biomedical possibilities

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a new method that allows cells to change their shape under the influence of light. This method was tested in experiments on starfish cells, and scientists were able to make the cells shrink, stretch and even turn them into a square shape. The results of this study were published in the journal Nature Physics.

The basis of the technology and the mechanism of action

The basis of this method is a special enzyme called GEF. It starts a chain of reactions that force the cell to contract and move. Scientists have developed a light-sensitive version of this enzyme and introduced it into starfish cells. It was confirmed that it is possible to change the shape of the cells by illuminating specific areas of them.

Experiments have shown that it is possible to control the movement of cells with high precision using light. For example, depending on the illumination pattern, scientists were able to create small contractions or large wave-like movements. It was also found that by directing light to a single point, chain reactions can be triggered in the cell. This makes it possible to change the shape of the cell without additional intervention.

New opportunities in biomedicine

This innovative method opens up new opportunities in the field of biomedicine. In the future, this technology:

Can be used to create programmable cells. For example, it is possible to develop cellular “patches” that shrink when exposed to light, helping to heal wounds.

It can be used to create drug-carrying cells. Such cells can release drugs only when exposed to a certain light signal and at a precisely defined location.

Future research directions

The scientists plan to further deepen the study and study how this mechanism works in other cells, including human cells. According to the head of the study, Nikta Fakhri, this will help to better understand how living organisms are formed from a single cell. This method also offers the opportunity to develop new approaches in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

Thus, the ability to control the shape of cells with the help of light could be a major step forward in the fields of medicine and biology. This technology is expected to provide new innovative solutions for human health in the near future. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”