Imaging mechanobiological sensing and cellular response in cancer

Objectives

1. Implementation and multiplexing of FLIM-based sensors to probe membrane tension, mechanoresponsive protein activation and biochemical signals in cells within 3D scaffolds of tuned stiffness and

2. cross correlate this with phenotypic endpoints and

3. define metabolic changes associated with these force transmission events for further investigation as mechano-sensitive drivers of tumour progression. We will use 3D cultures and organoids from breast and head & neck cancers to explore these parameters. These models will enable in situ monitoring of how manipulation of mediators of biomechanical signalling affect cell phenotypes and drug induced cell toxicity.

The DC will first establish the model of cancer in a microwell chamber adapted to the FLIM imaging platform (in collaboration with DC8) and team up with DC1 in the multiplexed data modelling using a Machine Learning approach towards classification of drug induced responses.

Host Academic Institution: King’s College London