ECgo: All-optical induction of single endothelial cell injury and capillary occlusion in the brain

J Jacqueline Condrau (Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich) S Srinivasa R. Allu (Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania) T Tatiana V. Esipova (Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania) E Eva Erlebach (Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich) M Matthias T. Wyss (Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich) C Chaim Glück (Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich) L Luca Ravotto (Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich) T Thomas Troxler (Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania) M Mikhail Drobizhev (Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University) M Marco Villa (Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 85, 40129 Bologna, Italy) P Paola Ceroni (Dipartimento di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum− Universit̀a di Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy) M Mohamad El Amki (Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich) S Sergei A. Vinogradov (Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania) B Bruno Weber (Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich)

Abstract

The ability to induce endothelial cell (EC) damage in the mouse brain with high spatial precision is invaluable for mechanistic studies of brain capillary injury and repair. Here, we introduce an optical method, termed Endothelial Cell guided obliteration (ECgo), that utilizes a two-photon-excitable porphyrin-based photosensitizer ( Ps2P ) to selectively obliterate single ECs within the brain microvascular network. Using the developed approach, we were able to induce occlusions of single capillaries with high spatiotemporal control, while preserving the surrounding tissue. Combined with longitudinal two-photon imaging, ECgo enables studies of morphological and functional consequences of targeted single capillary EC injury in vivo under healthy and diseased conditions.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 21
Published May 26, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (14)

J

Jacqueline Condrau

Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich

S

Srinivasa R. Allu

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

T

Tatiana V. Esipova

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

E

Eva Erlebach

Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich

M

Matthias T. Wyss

Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich

C

Chaim Glück

Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich

L

Luca Ravotto

Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich

T

Thomas Troxler

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

M

Mikhail Drobizhev

Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University

M

Marco Villa

Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 85, 40129 Bologna, Italy

P

Paola Ceroni

Dipartimento di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum− Universit̀a di Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy

M

Mohamad El Amki

Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich

S

Sergei A. Vinogradov

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania

B

Bruno Weber

Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich