Sensocell
Impetux offers optical tweezers instrumentation based on a worldwide patented technology specially developed to decode, analyse and quantify tissue and cellular mechanics.
The challenge: Today, brain-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other dementias, unfortunately without a cure, are finding a great ally in research. The analysis of neurological systems in micro-organisms plays a key role as a testbed. Neuron visualisation techniques have advanced enough to be able to carry out passive (observational) studies, but active (manipulative) techniques are required to properly understand how neurons interact to form neural systems. The main problem for study in organisms is access within the tissue.
Sensocell is a novel optical tweezers concept for cell mechanobiology research.
This development is the result of a collaborative project between Impetux, ICFO, and secpho with the support of the Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Tourism of Spain.
The solution: Sensocell is a platform for optical manipulation of biological systems that allows the manipulation of microscopic objects with light alone, without the need for direct contact with them. In addition, the system allows the measurement of the interaction forces between them.
This technology-based on infrared laser light makes it possible to monitor and characterise the mechanical interactions between neurons within (light-transparent) biological tissues and has the potential to become the solution to access difficulties.
Sensocell offers a revolutionary tool in neurological research as it allows access to the interior of living tissue without producing any alteration.
Sensocell is the result of the AEI project in its 2018 Lightouch call in which Impetux collaborated, together with ICFO and secpho. An industrial research project which, in turn, was based on the research work of the uEMBS project, a platform for micro-manipulation of living tissue using optical tweezers, which has also been funded by the support programme for Innovative Business Clusters of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism in its 2017 call, in which Impetux, ProCareLight and secpho participated.