Image of the Day: Shrink Ray

A near-infrared laser warps a tissue culture surface to mimic natural cellular environments.

Written byJef Akst
| 1 min read

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Focusing a laser on points within a hydrogel pad, a team at the University of Texas at Austin can change the shape and texture of the pad’s surface, according to a study published online this month (October 15) in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. This creates an adjustable and potentially dynamic environment in which to culture cells—closer to the experience of cells during various biological events, from development to wound healing and nerve regrowth.

D.S. Hernandez et al., “In situ imprinting of topographic landscapes at the cell–substrate interface,” J Am Chem Soc, doi:10.1021/jacs.8b09226, 2018.

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  • Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As The Scientist's managing editor, Jef edited features and oversaw the production of the TS Digest and quarterly print magazine. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.

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