Light directed migration of a cluster of cells in the centimeter scale.

Protein-based systems for light directed migration of cells have been demonstrated up to distances of several hundred microns, but larger distances in the centimeter scale would allow new possible applications. Light activated migration in mammalian cells can be achieved by cells expressing channelrhodopsin-2 and an engineered Ca2+ sensitive Rac1 protein called RACer. In this study, light was used to induce wound healing, localize cells into a region of interest, and move cells over centimeter scale distances. Given the spatially complex organization of different types of cells in real tissue, light directed migration over the centimeter scale could potentially organize cell type arrangement to help develop more realistic tissues for transplantation.