title: Digital holographic microscopy long-term and real-time monitoring of cell division and changes under simulated zero gravity.
abstract: The long-term and real-time monitoring the cell division and changes of osteoblasts under simulated zero gravity condition were succeed by combing a digital holographic microscopy (DHM) with a superconducting magnet (SM). The SM could generate different magnetic force fields in a cylindrical cavity, where the gravitational force of biological samples could be canceled at a special gravity position by a high magnetic force. Therefore the specimens were levitated and in a simulated zero gravity environment. The DHM was modified to fit with SM by using single mode optical fibers and a vertically-configured jig designed to hold specimens and integrate optical device in the magnet's bore. The results presented the first-phase images of living cells undergoing dynamic divisions and changes under simulated zero gravity environment for a period of 10 hours. The experiments demonstrated that the SM-compatible DHM setup could provide a highly efficient and versatile method for research on the effects of microgravity on biological samples.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Precision Opto-mechatronics Technology, School of Instrument Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China. panfeng@buaa.edu.cn
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D003470:Culture Media; D004867:Equipment Design; D006112:Gravitation; D006696:Holography / Q000379:methods*; D008280:Magnetics; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013026:Space Flight; D013997:Time Factors; D014893:Weightlessness
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media