lasercapture

Lasercapture is a family of laser-assisted techniques used to isolate or collect specific cells or tissue regions from a heterogeneous sample for downstream analysis. The term is most often used to refer to laser capture microdissection (LCM), a method widely employed in pathology and molecular biology since the 1990s. Lasercapture aims to preserve the molecular integrity of the captured material, including RNA, DNA, and proteins, by minimizing physical disruption of surrounding tissue.

Most lasercapture methods rely on a microscope-equipped laser to either cut around a region of interest or to activate adhesion of the target area to a capture device. Common modalities include infrared laser capture microdissection (IR-LCM), which uses a heat-softened capture cap, and ultraviolet laser capture microdissection (UV-LCM), which ablates tissue boundaries with a pulsed UV beam. A related approach is laser pressure catapulting, where a UV pulse propels the selected cells into a collection tube.

Applications span transcriptomics, genomics, epigenetics, and proteomics, especially when studying rare cell populations, tumor heterogeneity, or archival formalin-fixed tissue. The method enables selective analysis of material without the need for microdissection by manual scraping, reducing contamination and enabling reproducible molecular profiling.

Limitations include dependence on tissue quality and preservation, potential RNA or protein degradation if handling is not optimal, and equipment costs. Expertise is required to optimize laser settings to avoid thermal damage. Alternatives include flow cytometry-based cell sorting and laser microdissection platforms with different capture principles.

See also: microdissection, laser capture microdissection, IR-LCM, UV-LCM.