Quantifying scientific theories at the University of York’s core imaging facility with the Phasefocus Livecyte
29 February 2024
Researchers at the Imaging & Cytometry Laboratory share their experiences with the kinetic cytometer in the latest video from Phasefocus
The Livecyte by Phasefocus is being used at the University of York’s core imaging facility to answer a variety of scientific questions previously unanswered by modern imaging techniques. The Livecyte produces exceptionally high contrast time-lapse videos using ptychographic quantitative phase imaging (QPI) technology for a range of label-free assays. In our most recent video, we spoke to several researchers from the university’s Imaging & Cytometry Laboratory to find out how the Livecyte has enabled their research.
Using the Livecyte to identify new therapeutic targets
Dr. Will Brackenbury carries out research in cellular electrophysiology and has been using the Livecyte to generate high quality, reproducible data. His work primarily focuses on understanding ion movement through channels in cell membranes, with the hope to identify these channels as therapeutic targets in the future.
Dr. Brackenbury said, “We found that when you treat the breast cancer cells with sodium channel blockers or potassium channel openers, it causes a hyperpolarisation of the membrane potential. Then with the Livecyte, we found that this hyperpolarisation correlated with a slowing down of the cells’ migratory capacity; they moved slower in a wound healing assay. We published the outcome of that study in a paper in the Journal of Cellular Physiology in 2020.”
“You are able to get an insight into what your cells have been doing almost immediately after imaging.”
Dr. Laura Wiggins uses the Livecyte to study cell phenotyping; the ability to profile a cell in terms of its shape, size, texture, and motility. Automated single cell tracking of even the most sensitive cells quickly reveals subtle phenotypic differences in unperturbed cell populations.
Dr. Wiggins said, “Using the Livecyte data, we've been able to develop a tool called Cellphe for cell phenotyping. This comes complete with an R package and a graphical user interface, so it's been an essential tool for us to get our publication in Nature Communications.”
The Livecyte has also been used to look at breast cancer cells and the effect of chemotherapy drugs. Dr. Wiggins said, “The Livecyte has made it easy for us to get the analysis insights that we've wanted. It produces really high-quality time lapse images, and comes complete with the analysis toolbox. You get automated segmentation and tracking of the cells, with associated feature tables that describe what cells are doing overtime in terms of cell volume and sphericity. You are able to get an insight into what your cells have been doing almost immediately after imaging."
"We can now start identifying different phenotypic changes that wouldn't be possible using the other technologies.”
The University of York have found that metrics extracted from Livecyte data cannot be attained from any other techniques. It is this data that enables researchers to identify subpopulations in monocultures or why some cells react to drugs differently to others.
Head of the Imaging & Cytometry Laboratory Dr. Peter O’Toole said, “The nice thing about the software is that it carries out basic analysis. So, if a user asks a direct question, they can get a direct answer off it, but there's so much more hidden behind that data for them to extract if they want to […] We can now start identifying different phenotypic changes that wouldn't be possible using the other technologies. That's the single most important aspect.”
Find out more
You can learn more about the Phasefocus Livecyte by clicking the button below to request a guided demonstration with a product specialist.