Atomic Force Microscopy-based Platform for Investigating Single Cell Mechanics

Abstract

Atomic Force Microscopy-based Platform for Investigating Single Cell Mechanics

Full Description

Researchers at UC Davis have invented a new methodology to measure single cell mechanics. The new method utilizes atomic force microscopy (AFM) to perform single cell compression. Large sphere glued to the end of AFM probe compresses cell with independent displacement and force detection in wide range from 1 nN up to 50 µN. A high-resolution bright field or fluorescent microscopy guides the location of the probe and monitors the deformation of cell and cell organelles during the load cycle. Many previously developed methods probe only limited local deformation of membrane providing knowledge about local membrane properties. In contrast, in our scheme the indenter compresses the whole cell for 100%. In developed method whole cell compression together with optical recording of compression cycle contains information about membrane and cytoskeleton structure, integrity of cell, cell sensitivity to chemical treatment or gene over expression and cell viability.

Images

Schematic of developed methodic	Side view schematic of developed methodic

Bottom view of compressed cell. Numbers represent relative cell compression.

Suggested uses

• Cell biology
• Tissue analysis
• Biosensoring

Features/Benefits

The main advantage of cell compression method is reliability of data. Individual cell biology is described by statistical parameters rather than by results of single experiment. Cell compression method allows compressing up to 50 cells per hour in situ providing an easy statistical analysis of cell mechanical behavior. This method also requires minimum modification of widely used AFM setup, and therefore is inexpensive.

Patent Status