Nanoscopy Uncovers Hidden Communication Networks Between Cells
Researchers at The Australian National University developed a new nanoscopy technique called RO-iSCAT to observe real-time, 3D cellular interactions at the nanoscale, revealing dynamic thread-like structures forming networks between cells. The method, published in *Nature Communications*, could advance understanding of diseases like pancreatic cancer and viral spread by eliminating toxic chemical dyes and boosting signal detection tenfold.
A team at The Australian National University (ANU) has pioneered a nanoscopy technique called RO-iSCAT that uncovers hidden communication networks between cells, previously invisible to standard microscopes. Published in *Nature Communications*, the method uses gentle, label-free imaging to track cellular interactions in real time over days, revealing intricate 3D behaviors of nanoscale extensions from cells. The technique was developed by rotating the angle of light illuminating the sample and combining images at different heights, stripping away background noise. This approach boosts light signals from living cells by 10-fold without requiring toxic chemical dyes, allowing researchers to observe thread-like structures extending, retracting, and reconnecting dynamically. Lead author Junyu Liu and senior investigator Dr. Steve Lee from The John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR) demonstrated how these structures twist and form stable bridges between cells. The team observed pancreatic cancer cells and human blood vessel cells forming multiple connections with surrounding tissues, potentially aiding tumor growth and treatment resistance. Dr. Daniel Lim, a senior imaging scientist, described the breakthrough as observing a ‘fascinating short film,’ with interactions far more dynamic than textbook depictions. The method could also clarify how viruses spread through cellular bridges. The ANU team collaborated with researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research to investigate disease mechanisms, marking a potential leap in nanoscale biological research.
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