Novel method to monitor UV

Scientists have developed a novel and sensitive method to monitor and quantify ultraviolet radiation induced damages to living cells.

“The new sensor developed have shown successful results in monitoring the ultraviolet (UV) radiation induced deleterious effects on the unicellular autotrophic plant cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii,” said Deepak Mathur, Project director of Integrated Life Sciences Initiatives at Tata Institute of fundamental Research (TIFR).

‘Optical trap’ or ‘laser trap’ is used in the single cell sensor monitor and it could measure the effects of ultraviolet rays (UV), Mathur told reporters. He would present the results at an international conference being held in Switzerland this week.

The sensor also enables quantitative probe into the efficacy of anti-oxidants like ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) in combating these bio-deleterious effects on living cells.

The application of ‘optical traps’ to naturally occurring materials of cellular dimensions holds the promise of opening vistas in basic research.

For instance, single cell molecular biology, and for diverse applications such as laser-assisted in-vitro fertilisation, cell biosensors, and possibilities of micromanipulation, including cell sorting and construction of patterns for cellular microchips.

However, there remains a paucity of work on trapping cellular level biological material, Mathur added.