Kareem Elsayad and his research team at the Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, a part of the Medical Imaging Cluster at MedUni Vienna, have made significant strides in addressing complex questions related to cellular mechanics. Their innovative technique utilizes Brillouin Light Scattering to image intricate mechanical features within the cell nucleus, all in real-time and within living cells. By measuring the scattering of light from thermal vibrations in the sample, the scientists calculate the sample’s elasticity and viscosity. Simultaneously measuring this from all angles enables the creation of spatial maps, unveiling the dynamic and uniquely ordered nature of the cell nucleus. This newfound understanding suggests a potential role in synchronizing processes within the nucleus. Exciting progress in unraveling the mysteries of cellular mechanics!

Publication: Nature Photonics
Imaging the microscopic viscoelastic anisotropy in living cells;
Hamid Keshmiri, Domagoj Cikes, Marketa Samalova, Lukas Schindler, Lisa-Marie Appel, Michal Urbanek, Ivan Yudushkin, Dea Slade, Wolfgang J. Weninger, Alexis Peaucelle, Josef Penninger, Kareem Elsayad;
Doi: 10.1038/s41566-023-01368-w
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-023-01368-w