Highly transparent elastic optical microcavities for interferometric mapping of cell mechanics

F. Busse; J. H. Booth; N. M. Kronenberg; Y. Sun; A. T. Meek; A. Mischok; S. R. Pulver; M. C. Gather

doi:10.1364/BOE.572738

Highly transparent elastic optical microcavities for interferometric mapping of cell mechanics

F. Busse, J. H. Booth, N. M. Kronenberg, Y. Sun, A. T. Meek, A. Mischok, S. R. Pulver, M. C. Gather^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Elastic resonator interference stress microscopy (ERISM) enables label-free, non-invasive measurements of cellular forces by detecting the cell-induced deformation of an optical microcavity using optical interference. Here, we present an improved microcavity design that utilizes a high-refractive-index elastomer, eliminating the need for the top metal layer required in traditional ERISM microcavities. This simplifies the fabrication process, offers improved control over mechanical properties, and enhances the resolution of ERISM measurements. The design is compatible with various bio-coatings, maintains long-term cell viability, and significantly improves optical transmission. This enables integrated and confocal fluorescence imaging with improved contrast over traditional ERISM microcavities.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	4617-4632
Number of pages	16
Journal	Biomedical Optics Express
Volume	16
Issue number	11
Early online date	22 Oct 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1364/BOE.572738
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2025

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10.1364/BOE.572738Licence: CC BY

Busse_2025_BOE_Highly-transparent-elastic-optical-microcavities_CC
© 2025 The Author(s). Published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.
Final published version, 3.33 MBLicence: CC BY

Resonant and shaped photonics for under: Resonant and shaped photonics for understanding the physical and biomedical world
Dholakia, K. (PI) & Gather, M. (CoI)
1/08/17 → 31/07/22
Project: Standard
Interference Traction Force Microscopy: Interference Traction Force Microscopy (iTFM) for Bioimaging of Cellular Forces
Gather, M. (PI)
BBSRC
1/07/17 → 30/09/18
Project: Standard
H2020 ERC Starting Grant ABLASE: H2020 ERC Starting Grant ABLASE (Grant Agreement No. 640012)
Gather, M. (PI)
European Research Council
1/06/15 → 31/05/21
Project: Standard

Highly transparent elastic optical microcavities for interferometric mapping of cell mechanics (dataset)
Busse, F. (Creator), Booth, J. (Creator), Kronenberg, N. (Creator), Y, S. (Creator), Meek, A. (Creator), Mischok, A. (Creator), Pulver, S. (Creator) & Gather, M. (Creator), University of St Andrews, 27 Oct 2025
DOI: 10.17630/1eea9523-179c-4b72-97df-20e9cbf02fce
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@article{d1b1565d93144157bc66334c42140fbb,

title = "Highly transparent elastic optical microcavities for interferometric mapping of cell mechanics",

abstract = "Elastic resonator interference stress microscopy (ERISM) enables label-free, non-invasive measurements of cellular forces by detecting the cell-induced deformation of an optical microcavity using optical interference. Here, we present an improved microcavity design that utilizes a high-refractive-index elastomer, eliminating the need for the top metal layer required in traditional ERISM microcavities. This simplifies the fabrication process, offers improved control over mechanical properties, and enhances the resolution of ERISM measurements. The design is compatible with various bio-coatings, maintains long-term cell viability, and significantly improves optical transmission. This enables integrated and confocal fluorescence imaging with improved contrast over traditional ERISM microcavities.",

author = "F. Busse and Booth, {J. H.} and Kronenberg, {N. M.} and Y. Sun and Meek, {A. T.} and A. Mischok and Pulver, {S. R.} and Gather, {M. C.}",

note = "Funding: This study was financially supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Humboldt Professorship to M.C.G.), the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union{\textquoteright}s Horizon Europe research and innovation program (CELL-FORCE, Grant Agreement No. 101113162), EPSRC (Doctoral Training grant EP/L505079/1 and grant EP/P030017/1), the European Research Council under the European Union{\textquoteright}s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (FP/2014-202) ERC grant agreement no. 640012 (ABLASE), and instrument funding by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft in cooperation with the Ministerium f{\"u}r Kunst und Wissenschaft of North Rhine-Westphalia (469988234, INST 216/1120-1 FUGG).",

year = "2025",

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day = "1",

doi = "10.1364/BOE.572738",

language = "English",

volume = "16",

pages = "4617--4632",

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T1 - Highly transparent elastic optical microcavities for interferometric mapping of cell mechanics

AU - Busse, F.

AU - Booth, J. H.

AU - Kronenberg, N. M.

AU - Sun, Y.

AU - Meek, A. T.

AU - Mischok, A.

AU - Pulver, S. R.

AU - Gather, M. C.

N1 - Funding: This study was financially supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Humboldt Professorship to M.C.G.), the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program (CELL-FORCE, Grant Agreement No. 101113162), EPSRC (Doctoral Training grant EP/L505079/1 and grant EP/P030017/1), the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (FP/2014-202) ERC grant agreement no. 640012 (ABLASE), and instrument funding by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft in cooperation with the Ministerium für Kunst und Wissenschaft of North Rhine-Westphalia (469988234, INST 216/1120-1 FUGG).

PY - 2025/11/1

Y1 - 2025/11/1

N2 - Elastic resonator interference stress microscopy (ERISM) enables label-free, non-invasive measurements of cellular forces by detecting the cell-induced deformation of an optical microcavity using optical interference. Here, we present an improved microcavity design that utilizes a high-refractive-index elastomer, eliminating the need for the top metal layer required in traditional ERISM microcavities. This simplifies the fabrication process, offers improved control over mechanical properties, and enhances the resolution of ERISM measurements. The design is compatible with various bio-coatings, maintains long-term cell viability, and significantly improves optical transmission. This enables integrated and confocal fluorescence imaging with improved contrast over traditional ERISM microcavities.

AB - Elastic resonator interference stress microscopy (ERISM) enables label-free, non-invasive measurements of cellular forces by detecting the cell-induced deformation of an optical microcavity using optical interference. Here, we present an improved microcavity design that utilizes a high-refractive-index elastomer, eliminating the need for the top metal layer required in traditional ERISM microcavities. This simplifies the fabrication process, offers improved control over mechanical properties, and enhances the resolution of ERISM measurements. The design is compatible with various bio-coatings, maintains long-term cell viability, and significantly improves optical transmission. This enables integrated and confocal fluorescence imaging with improved contrast over traditional ERISM microcavities.

U2 - 10.1364/BOE.572738

DO - 10.1364/BOE.572738

M3 - Article

SN - 2156-7085

VL - 16

SP - 4617

EP - 4632

JO - Biomedical Optics Express

JF - Biomedical Optics Express

IS - 11

ER -

Highly transparent elastic optical microcavities for interferometric mapping of cell mechanics

Abstract

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Projects

Resonant and shaped photonics for under: Resonant and shaped photonics for understanding the physical and biomedical world

Interference Traction Force Microscopy: Interference Traction Force Microscopy (iTFM) for Bioimaging of Cellular Forces

H2020 ERC Starting Grant ABLASE: H2020 ERC Starting Grant ABLASE (Grant Agreement No. 640012)

Datasets

Highly transparent elastic optical microcavities for interferometric mapping of cell mechanics (dataset)

Cite this