Live imaging of cell apoptosis using FRET-based bioprobes in MEMS fabricated microculture dish

We proposed a novel approach for monitoring cellular caspase-3 activities and controlling morphology of a cell under real time condition using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) based-bioprobes and the MEMS fabricated microculture dish. The FRET-based bioprobes monitoring caspase-3 activities were successfully introduced into the PC12 cells. In addition, the morphology of the bioprobes introduced cell was controlled along the patterned micro grooves. We observed the activation of the protease and the morphology change of the cell simultaneously when the cells were exposed to an apoptosis inducer.