Real-time noninvasive monitoring of UV light-induced cell death by the deflection of a probe beam.

Cell death and its deregulation characterize numerous human diseases. Here, we report on real-time noninvasive monitoring of UV light-induced cell death by the deflection of a probe beam. UV light of 330-370 nm from a high-pressure Hg lamp illuminated cultured HepG2 cells, and at the same time a probe beam from a diode laser was passed through a vicinity of the HepG2 cell. The deflection signal of the probe beam, which was induced by changes of the concentration gradients in processes of the active materials movements across the cell membrane, was monitored. It was found that the deflection signals changed greatly after UV illumination, suggesting that the materials movements across the cell membrane were greatly affected by the UV illumination. After UV illumination of about 5400-7400 s at a light power of 0.028 W/cm(2), the deflection signals became little changed with time, suggesting that the living cells had been killed by the UV illumination. This conclusion agreed well with cell viability determinations of the traditional trypan blue method.