CellEraser details

The instrument is available from In Vivo Scientific. The vertical or Z position of the output waveguide was adjusted manually with 148–801 micrometer or in an automated mode using Z812B motorized actuator and KDC101 motor controller (all from Thorlabs). To control the distance between the output waveguide and the bottom of the cell cultureware, the waveguide was moved upwards until it touched the cultureware bottom. The touch position was detected via microscopy as image movement. Then the waveguide was withdrawn about 200 µm downwards and that distance was maintained during the calibration procedure and all subsequent experiments.

Cells exposed to elevated temperatures (50–55 °C) start to round up and lose the attachment to the substrate (similarly to cells in late stage of division). Those cells can be removed by a simple washing procedure: cell medium is removed by aspiration, Hanks balanced salt solution (H8264) is added and aspirated, and the medium is returned. Depending on the cell type, the washing step can be repeated twice to be sure that all cells are removed from the MMW treated area.