Measuring cell volume regulation with time resolved acoustic microscopy

Cell volume regulation in biological systems is of key significance for a variety of physiological processes including apoptosis and proliferation. Many different methods like scanning confocal laser microscopy, light scattering and the coulter method are used to measure the cell volume. Major limitations of these techniques are a rather high error, a low time resolution, the limitation to certain experimental conditions and, possibly, photo damage of cells. This contribution describes the potency of time resolved acoustic microscopy for measuring the cell volume. The major advantages of acoustic microscopy for cell volume measurement are the high accuracy, the absence of any radiation damage and photobleaching and the opportunity to use non-transparent samples and substrates.