Investigation of laser-induced cell lysis using time-resolved imaging

Using time-resolved imaging, we investigated the lysis of confluent PtK2 cell cultures by pulsed laser microbeam irradiation. Images obtained at time delays of 0.5 ns to 50 μs demonstrate lysis to be mediated by laser-induced plasma formation resulting in pressure wave propagation and cavitation bubble formation. Image analysis enabled quantitative characterization of the pressure wave and cavitation bubble dynamics. The zone of cell damage exceeded the plasma size and serves to implicate cavitation bubble expansion as the primary agent of cell injury.