Live Cell Imaging

Live cell imaging is an important analytical tool to provide clues into the fundamental nature of cellular and tissue structure and function. It plays an important role in cell biology, neurobiology, pharmacology, and developmental biology. Traditionally, genetic modification of cells with encoded fluorescent proteins is widely used for live cell imaging. However, it has limited applicability due to the permanent modifications made on cells. With the development of the new labeling agents and modification strategy, many endeavors have been made to develop surface engineering techniques that can circumvent the limitations of genetic modification. Cell surface engineering provides a novel, effective and simple platform to promote the development of live cell imaging strategy.

Cell Surface Engineering Technology

Cell surface engineering offers more transient and reversible modifications to endow new characteristics and functions to cells. This technology has drawn continuous interest in biomedical science, especially in cell-based therapy. Compared with genetic modification at the gene and protein level, surface engineering modifies the cell using the characteristics of lipids, proteins, and glycans present in the cell membrane, which protecting cells from the sheer stress and immune response, avoiding the possibility of endogenous gene disruption and the limitation of permanent genetic modification. Therefore, direct modification of the cell surface to introduce small molecule probes (such as fluorescent and biophysical probes) is highly desirable to advance live cell imaging. There are a series of non-genetic cell surface modification strategies have been developed, including chemical conjugations, polymeric encapsulation, hydrophobic insertion, enzymatic and metabolic addition.

Surface engineering techniques can circumvent the limitations of genetic modification and have been a promising methodology applied in bioimaging. As a leading service provider of cell surface engineering, Creative Biolabs has developed various cell surface engineering strategies to introduce a broad scope of conjugates for our global customers. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.