Optofluidic-based cell multi-axis controllable rotation and 3D surface imaging.

This article focuses on a novel optofluidic-based technique for multi-axis controllable rotation of individual cells, enabling three-dimensional (3D) multi-angle imaging and morphological analysis. The method combines optical tweezers to immobilize cells with asymmetric microfluidic flow to induce rotation around adjustable axes, allowing precise control of rotation speed, direction, and axis. Using this approach, the authors reconstructed 3D surface images of red blood cells with different shapes—discocytes, echinocytes, and spherocytes—and quantified structural parameters such as surface area, volume, sphericity, and surface roughness. The technique offers advantages over existing cell rotation methods by simplifying manipulation, enhancing control precision, and accommodating larger cells, thereby providing a promising tool for rapid, high-precision cellular morphology studies.