Integrated platform for "optical-squeezing" of red blood cells: A marker for structural deformation for stored blood lesion

Scientific Abstract: The aim of the proposal is two-fold. First, we plan to develop a platform for optical squeezing of red blood cells (RBCs) on the surface of an optical waveguide. Measurement of the tensile strength of RBCs can be used as a marker for the diagnosis of 'structural disorders' due to storage lesions of blood. Second, we plan to use a recently developed super-resolution bioimaging platform at UC Davis, and in particular employ scanning confocal microscopy to image and understand the physic al mechanisms of cell squeezing on an optical waveguide. Synergy: The main aim of this mobility grant is to take advantage of the super-resolution bio-imaging and biophotonics platform built by Prof. Thomas Huser and his group. The group employs microsco pic imaging and analysis methods, such as Structured Illumination Super-resolution Microscopy, Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy and Live Cell Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy. These techniques are used to characterize and visualize sub-cellular eve nts and molecular fingerprints. Recently, Dr. Husers group was able to track the cell-to-cell infection of HIV-1 in living cells, the result of which was recently published in Science.