Metabolic Imaging & Tissue engineering Group News

ALERT: New publication from our group! Angela, Gabriele, Hang, Nore, Nina and Irina teamed up to produce a video protocol paper, focusing on comparing various multicellular spheroid formation methods, suitable for 'downstream' live multi-parameter fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and imaging cell oxygenation. This protocol is illustrated with examples of autofluorescence-based FLIM microscopy of NAD(P)H, oxygenation and cell death, as well as imaging of visible flavin-based cell autofluorescence, performed in tumour and stem cell-derived spheroids. The article is also a part of the Methods collection 'Quantitative Live Cell Imaging of 3D Models', which is going to expand in the future.    Link to the publication: https://www.jove.com/t/66845/production-multi-parameter-live-cell-fluorescence-lifetime-imaging The Methods Collection (Journal of Visualised Experiments, JOVE):  https://app.jove.com/methods-collections/902

It's been busy, it's been tough but it's been also fun! Our team has trained a number of MSc students, with excellent projects, spanning the scope from establishment of novel organoid models, to testing of mechanical properties of the hydrogel-producing biomaterials on the small intestinal epithelium organoids and FLIM analysis of neural ('brain') iPSC-derived organoids. Thanks to everyone involved! The end of year (June) was culminated in presenting of research at Ghent Gut Inflammation Group (Ruslan, Irina, Hang, Lenie) and participating (as instructors, Ruslan and Michele) in the FEBS course on Functional Imaging of cellular dynamics (Amsterdam, 9-15 June 2024)!         Stay tuned for more exciting news on our research!

(video: time lapse FLIM of endocytosis in human colon cancer cells using LysoSensor Green, (C) Dmitriev Lab, 2023) The period of ~October 2023 until ~May 2024 (almost complete academic year!) was too busy for publishing any updates but thanks for staying tuned (if you did so). Some key updates for this period: Successful start of FLIMagin3D project, with the 3 new PhD students (Hang, Michele and Gabriele) + visiting (via secondments) PhD students, joining our team to address challenges in multi-parameter FLIM of organoids and multicellular spheroids, advancing imaging & probes for cell oxygenation, FLIM-FRET, tissue mechanics and biofabricated inter-species communities. More about the FLIMagin3D can be found here:  https://www.flimagin3d.com/   Some visiting scientists with exciting projects, including Dr. A. Russegger, R. Harkhoe, partners from OsteoNet Horizon MSCA Staff Exchange network Our group (including the microscopes!) has relocated to the new 'The Core' / MREB3 r...

We will attend and present at TERMIS-EU 2023 (Manchester, UK, 28-31 March 2023)! Prof. R. Dmitriev will co-chair (together with Prof. M. Monaghan, Trinity College Dublin) and present at the symposium ' Wanted: dead or alive? Quantitative microscopy of single-cell, spheroid and organoid cultures': Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) to study niche-specific regions and metabolism in epithelial organoids More on the program and the event can be found here .

Prof. Ruslan Dmitriev and PhD candidate Angela Debruyne collaborated with TU Graz (Prof. S. Borisov) and University of Tubingen on the design of new type of the nanothermometer, based on organic Zr complexes and exhibiting long emission decay times. These materials open a new framework for microsecond-range emitting temperature-sensitive materials, providing better resolution and potential applications in imaging temperature gradients in multicellular spheroids, as we have demonstrated in the study. The research has been published in Advanced Optical Materials journal. Russegger A, Debruyne AC, Berrio DC, Fuchs S, Marzi J, Schenke-Layland K, Dmitriev RI, Borisov SM: Bright and Photostable TADF-Emitting Zirconium(IV) Pyridinedipyrrolide Complexes: Efficient Dyes for Decay Time-Based Temperature Sensing and Imaging . Advanced Optical Materials 2023,:2202720. If you are interested in our research in nanothermometry, expertise and dedicated nanosensors, do not hesitate to contact us. ...

Are you looking for a PhD and interested in advanced live cell microscopies? Perhaps in FLIM? In some of the best labs across EU and UK? With funded mobility? We have good news for you: within the Horizon-funded MSCA doctoral network we are hiring 12+2 PhD students. More information here . Apply via EURAXESS / FLIMagin3D website or for UK here  Twitter 

It was a busy period during June-October this year! Below are some important updates about our team: - Together with prof. Sarah Vergult, we received a funding by the Special Research Fund (BOF) to start an interdisciplinary research project on imaging of neural organoids 'IMAGIBRAINDD' . The team will grow with at least one new PhD student. More details to follow. - Have you ever heard about FLIMagin 3 D ? Together with Prof. Michael Monaghan (Trinity College Dublin) and a number of experts across EU and UK we have secured funding for a new doctoral training network (MSCA) aiming at expanding & consolidating training in biosensors, modelling, tissue models, hardware and software for 3D FLIM. This project will start from 1-Jan-2023 and soon we will be hiring PhD students. Twitter page for new updates. - New microscope(!) Thanks to FWO (medium infrastructure call 2021) and support from ~ 25 other enthusiastic colleagues from UGent and VIB, soon we will have confocal white ...