3D live monitoring of Blebbistatin effect on glioma cells using digital holographic microscopy

Gliomas account for approximately one-third of all brain neoplasm subtypes and represent the most common primary brain tumors. Development of novel therapeutic strategies for gliomas continues to be a major focus of ongoing research. In the present study, using digital holographic microscopy (DHM), we investigate the morphological effects of Blebbistatin (BB) treatment on glioma cells.

BB is known for disrupting actomyosin contractility, thereby modulating key cellular processes, such as migration, cytokinesis, and cytoskeletal remodeling. DHM is a label-free, non-invasive imaging modality that enables quantitative and morphometric assessment of biological samples over arbitrary time scales and at video frame rates, making it suitable for live and 3D monitoring of cells. By numerically reconstructing the recorded digital holograms, we track cellular morphological changes and quantify them in terms of optical volume and several statistical parameters.

Our findings indicate that the addition of BB induces significant, time-dependent alterations in cellular structure. In particular, the cell surface morphology exhibits marked changes, characterized by increased surface roughness. These effects are likely a result of localized membrane contraction and a reduction in mechanical rigidity caused by the drug.

V.F.R. and A.R.M. appreciate the support provided by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF), Grant No. 98013402. Department of Physics, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), Zanjan, 45137-66731, Iran Vahideh Farzam Rad, Vahid Abbasian & Ali-Reza Moradi School of Quantum Physics and Matter, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, 19395-5531, Iran The authors declare no competing interests. Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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