10/02/2025
Astrocytes, long recognized as supportive cells in the central nervous system (CNS), play critical roles in neural function and health. Although astrocyte shape and structure are closely linked to their health and disease states, the dynamic change in their morphology over time remains an underexplored area of research, primarily due to the lack of suitable tools for long-term, label-free imaging that do not interfere with their natural behavior.
An international team of researchers from the National Research Council of Italy (Dr. Emanuela Saracino, ISOF-CNR, Bologna and Dr. Annalisa Convertino, IMM-CNR, Rome) and Johns Hopkins University (Prof. Ishan Barman and his group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Baltimore, USA) has recently published a groundbreaking study on Advanced Healthcare Materials. This work pioneers Optical Diffraction Tomography (ODT)-- a label-free and quantitative imaging technique-- to capture the dynamic morphological time evolution of astrocytes. Unlike traditional imaging methods, ODT provides real-time, high-resolution insights into cell volume, dry mass, and surface area without the need for fluorescent labeling. By analyzing 3D refractive index maps and employing advanced shape characterization techniques, this novel approach monitors astrocytes in their natural state and introduces a unique framework for studying cell shape dynamics. It represents the first application of this methodology to neural cell types, paving the way for future research into astrocyte behavior in diverse environments.
The work opens uncharted avenues for exploring astrocyte development and interactions within neural networks, offering novel perspectives on their role in health and disease.
The research received significant support by the CNR grant program Short Term Mobility (STM) supporting Dr. Saracino work at Johns Hopkins University and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Biophysics Program FA9550-22-1-0334. The collaborative activity is the results of the initiatives of the International Working Group on "Advanced Materials, Nanomaterials, and Biophysics" within the framework of the Italy-USA Cooperation on Science and Technology, led by Dr. Luigi Ambrosio (CNR) and Dr. Sofi Bin-Salamon (AFOSR).
Per informazioni:
Emanuela Saracino
Cnr-Isof
emanuela.saracino@isof.cnr.it
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