Closed-loop optogenetic control of cell biology enables outcome-driven microscopy
Publication date
2025-12-23
Authors
Passmore, Josiah B.
Rates, Alfredo
Schröder, Jakob
van Laarhoven, Menno T P
Hellebrekers, Vincent J W
van Hoef, Henrik G
Geurts, Antonius J M
van Straaten, Wendy
Nijenhuis, Wilco
Berger, Florian
Editors
Advisors
Supervisors
Document Type
Article
Metadata
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License
cc_by
Abstract
Smart microscopy is transforming biological imaging by integrating real-time analysis with adaptive acquisition to enhance imaging efficiency. Whereas many emerging implementations are event-driven and focus on on-demand data acquisition to reduce phototoxicity, we here present 'outcome-driven' microscopy, a framework combining smart microscopy with optogenetics to control cell biological processes and achieve predefined outcomes. We validate this approach using light-based control of cell migration and nucleocytoplasmic transport, demonstrating robust spatiotemporal control of cellular behaviour in single cells and in cell populations.
Keywords
Optogenetics/methods, Humans, Cell Movement, Microscopy/methods, Single-Cell Analysis/methods, Animals, Microscopy, Fluorescence/methods, Light, HeLa Cells, Cell Nucleus/metabolism
Citation
Passmore, J B, Rates, A, Schröder, J, van Laarhoven, M T P, Hellebrekers, V J W, van Hoef, H G, Geurts, A J M, van Straaten, W, Nijenhuis, W, Berger, F, Smith, C S, Smal, I & Kapitein, L C 2025, 'Closed-loop optogenetic control of cell biology enables outcome-driven microscopy', Nature Communications, vol. 17, no. 1, 1087. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67848-5