Live cell imaging

Live cell imaging is an approach used to observe and study living cells in real time under a microscope. It involves the use of advanced imaging methods, such as fluorescence, confocal, or time-lapse microscopy, to visualize dynamic cellular processes, including cell division, migration, intracellular trafficking, and signalling.

Live cell imaging is invaluable for understanding cellular behaviour in physiological and pathological contexts, offering insights into biology, disease progression, and the effects of drugs or environmental changes on cellular functions. It prioritizes maintaining cell health and minimizing phototoxicity and photobleaching during observations.

For live cell imaging, confocal microscopy allows researchers to track dynamic events like cell division, protein interactions, and intracellular transport, albeit not suitable for observing living cells over extended periods. Phototoxicity is the main adverse factor for the application of confocal microscopy in live cell imaging, as the strong laser light damages cells over prolonged imaging.

Photobleaching is another issue, where fluorescence decays, reducing image quality over time. Additionally, the limited depth of field and slower image acquisition can hinder capturing fast cellular dynamics in thicker tissue samples.