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Kawakami M, Kojima M, Masuda Y, Mae Y, Horii T, Nagai T, Nakahata M, Sakai S, Arai T. Automated Microhand System for Measuring Cell Stiffness By Using Two Plate End-Effectors. IEEE Robot Autom Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1109/lra.2022.3143296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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52
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Sutton AA, Molter CW, Amini A, Idicula J, Furman M, Tirgar P, Tao Y, Ghagre A, Koushki N, Khavari A, Ehrlicher AJ. Cell monolayer deformation microscopy reveals mechanical fragility of cell monolayers following EMT. Biophys J 2022; 121:629-643. [PMID: 34999131 PMCID: PMC8873957 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue and cell mechanics are crucial factors in maintaining homeostasis and in development, with aberrant mechanics contributing to many diseases. During the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a highly conserved cellular program in organismal development and cancer metastasis, cells gain the ability to detach from their original location and autonomously migrate. While a great deal of biochemical and biophysical changes at the single-cell level have been revealed, how the physical properties of multicellular assemblies change during EMT, and how this may affect disease progression, is unknown. Here we introduce cell monolayer deformation microscopy (CMDM), a new methodology to measure the planar mechanical properties of cell monolayers by locally applying strain and measuring their resistance to deformation. We employ this new method to characterize epithelial multicellular mechanics at early and late stages of EMT, finding the epithelial monolayers to be relatively compliant, ductile, and mechanically homogeneous. By comparison, the transformed mesenchymal monolayers, while much stiffer, were also more brittle, mechanically heterogeneous, displayed more viscoelastic creep, and showed sharp yield points at significantly lower strains. Here, CMDM measurements identify specific biophysical functional states of EMT and offer insight into how cell aggregates fragment under mechanical stress. This mechanical fingerprinting of multicellular assemblies using new quantitative metrics may also offer new diagnostic applications in healthcare to characterize multicellular mechanical changes in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy A. Sutton
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Clayton W. Molter
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ali Amini
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Johanan Idicula
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Max Furman
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pouria Tirgar
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Yuanyuan Tao
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ajinkya Ghagre
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Newsha Koushki
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Adele Khavari
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Allen J. Ehrlicher
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,Centre for Structural Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,Corresponding author
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It Takes More than Two to Tango: Complex, Hierarchal, and Membrane-Modulated Interactions in the Regulation of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14040944. [PMID: 35205690 PMCID: PMC8869822 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14040944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The search for an understanding of how cell fate and motility are regulated is not a purely scientific undertaking, but it can also lead to rationally designed therapies against cancer. The discovery of tyrosine kinases about half a century ago, the subsequent characterization of certain transmembrane receptors harboring tyrosine kinase activity, and their connection to the development of human cancer ushered in a new age with the hope of finding a treatment for malignant diseases in the foreseeable future. However, painstaking efforts were required to uncover the principles of how these receptors with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity are regulated. Developments in molecular and structural biology and biophysical approaches paved the way towards better understanding of these pathways. Discoveries in the past twenty years first resulted in the formulation of textbook dogmas, such as dimerization-driven receptor association, which were followed by fine-tuning the model. In this review, the role of molecular interactions taking place during the activation of receptor tyrosine kinases, with special attention to the epidermal growth factor receptor family, will be discussed. The fact that these receptors are anchored in the membrane provides ample opportunities for modulatory lipid-protein interactions that will be considered in detail in the second part of the manuscript. Although qualitative and quantitative alterations in lipids in cancer are not sufficient in their own right to drive the malignant transformation, they both contribute to tumor formation and also provide ways to treat cancer. The review will be concluded with a summary of these medical aspects of lipid-protein interactions.
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Mierke CT. Viscoelasticity, Like Forces, Plays a Role in Mechanotransduction. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:789841. [PMID: 35223831 PMCID: PMC8864183 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.789841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Viscoelasticity and its alteration in time and space has turned out to act as a key element in fundamental biological processes in living systems, such as morphogenesis and motility. Based on experimental and theoretical findings it can be proposed that viscoelasticity of cells, spheroids and tissues seems to be a collective characteristic that demands macromolecular, intracellular component and intercellular interactions. A major challenge is to couple the alterations in the macroscopic structural or material characteristics of cells, spheroids and tissues, such as cell and tissue phase transitions, to the microscopic interferences of their elements. Therefore, the biophysical technologies need to be improved, advanced and connected to classical biological assays. In this review, the viscoelastic nature of cytoskeletal, extracellular and cellular networks is presented and discussed. Viscoelasticity is conceptualized as a major contributor to cell migration and invasion and it is discussed whether it can serve as a biomarker for the cells' migratory capacity in several biological contexts. It can be hypothesized that the statistical mechanics of intra- and extracellular networks may be applied in the future as a powerful tool to explore quantitatively the biomechanical foundation of viscoelasticity over a broad range of time and length scales. Finally, the importance of the cellular viscoelasticity is illustrated in identifying and characterizing multiple disorders, such as cancer, tissue injuries, acute or chronic inflammations or fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tanja Mierke
- Faculty of Physics and Earth Science, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Biological Physics Division, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Ahmed S, Johnson RT, Solanki R, Afewerki T, Wostear F, Warren DT. Using Polyacrylamide Hydrogels to Model Physiological Aortic Stiffness Reveals that Microtubules Are Critical Regulators of Isolated Smooth Muscle Cell Morphology and Contractility. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:836710. [PMID: 35153800 PMCID: PMC8830533 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.836710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the predominant cell type in the medial layer of the aortic wall and normally exist in a quiescent, contractile phenotype where actomyosin-derived contractile forces maintain vascular tone. However, VSMCs are not terminally differentiated and can dedifferentiate into a proliferative, synthetic phenotype. Actomyosin force generation is essential for the function of both phenotypes. Whilst much is already known about the mechanisms of VSMC actomyosin force generation, existing assays are either low throughput and time consuming, or qualitative and inconsistent. In this study, we use polyacrylamide hydrogels, tuned to mimic the physiological stiffness of the aortic wall, in a VSMC contractility assay. Isolated VSMC area decreases following stimulation with the contractile agonists angiotensin II or carbachol. Importantly, the angiotensin II induced reduction in cell area correlated with increased traction stress generation. Inhibition of actomyosin activity using blebbistatin or Y-27632 prevented angiotensin II mediated changes in VSMC morphology, suggesting that changes in VSMC morphology and actomyosin activity are core components of the contractile response. Furthermore, we show that microtubule stability is an essential regulator of isolated VSMC contractility. Treatment with either colchicine or paclitaxel uncoupled the morphological and/or traction stress responses of angiotensin II stimulated VSMCs. Our findings support the tensegrity model of cellular mechanics and we demonstrate that microtubules act to balance actomyosin-derived traction stress generation and regulate the morphological responses of VSMCs.
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56
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Liu Y, Xin F. Nonlinear large deformation of a spherical red blood cell induced by ultrasonic standing wave. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2022; 21:589-604. [PMID: 34981303 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-021-01550-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
A computational model is developed to investigate the nonlinear static deformation of a spherical (osmotically swollen) red blood cell (RBC) induced by ultrasonic standing wave. The ultrasonic standing wave can generate steady acoustic radiation stress to deform the cell, and in turn, the deformed cell reshapes the acoustic field. This is a real-time coupling problem between the acoustic field and the mechanical field. In the computational model, the acoustic radiation stress acting on the RBC membrane is modeled by adopting the nonviscous momentum flux theory. The RBC membrane is modeled as a hyperelastic shell considering the in-plane elasticity, bending elasticity, and surface tension of the membrane. The volume conservation constraint of the membrane sealing fluid is applied to ensure the osmotic balance of the membrane. To address this real-time coupling problem, the computational model is implemented by a finite element method algorithm. The numerical results are compared with the existing theoretical model and experimental data, and the strain hardening trend of the experimental data is successfully predicted, which verifies the accuracy and effectiveness of the computational model. The computational model can accurately extract the mechanical properties of cells from acoustic deformation experiments, which is helpful for the diagnosis of some human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, People's Republic of China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Multifunctional Materials and Structures, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengxian Xin
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, People's Republic of China.
- MOE Key Laboratory for Multifunctional Materials and Structures, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, People's Republic of China.
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57
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The Hertzian theory in AFM nanoindentation experiments regarding biological samples: Overcoming limitations in data processing. Micron 2022; 155:103228. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2022.103228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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58
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Fu P, Zhang J, Li H, Mak M, Xu W, Tao Z. Extracellular vesicles as delivery systems at nano-/micro-scale. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 179:113910. [PMID: 34358539 PMCID: PMC8986465 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have shown significant promises as nano-/micro-size carriers in drug delivery and bioimaging. With more characteristics of EVs explored through tremendous research efforts, their unmatched physicochemical properties, biological features, and mechanical aspects make them unique vehicles, owning exceptional pharmacokinetics, circulatory metabolism and biodistribution pattern when delivering theranostic cargoes. In this review we firstly analyzed pros and cons of the EVs as a delivery platform. Secondly, compared to engineered nanoparticle delivery systems, such as biocompatible di-block co-polymers, rational design to improve EVs (exosomes in particular) were elaborated. Lastly, different pharmaceutical loading approaches into EVs were compared, reaching a conclusion on how to construct a clinically available and effective nano-/micro-carrier for a satisfactory medical mission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiwen Fu
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; Zhenjiang Municipal Key Laboratory of High Technology for Basic and Translational Research on Exosomes, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Jianguo Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212001, China
| | - Haitao Li
- Institute for Energy Research, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Michael Mak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Yale University, New Haven 06520, USA.
| | - Wenrong Xu
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; Zhenjiang Municipal Key Laboratory of High Technology for Basic and Translational Research on Exosomes, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
| | - Zhimin Tao
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; Zhenjiang Municipal Key Laboratory of High Technology for Basic and Translational Research on Exosomes, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
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59
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Quality control methods in musculoskeletal tissue engineering: from imaging to biosensors. Bone Res 2021; 9:46. [PMID: 34707086 PMCID: PMC8551153 DOI: 10.1038/s41413-021-00167-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue engineering is rapidly progressing toward clinical application. In the musculoskeletal field, there has been an increasing necessity for bone and cartilage replacement. Despite the promising translational potential of tissue engineering approaches, careful attention should be given to the quality of developed constructs to increase the real applicability to patients. After a general introduction to musculoskeletal tissue engineering, this narrative review aims to offer an overview of methods, starting from classical techniques, such as gene expression analysis and histology, to less common methods, such as Raman spectroscopy, microcomputed tomography, and biosensors, that can be employed to assess the quality of constructs in terms of viability, morphology, or matrix deposition. A particular emphasis is given to standards and good practices (GXP), which can be applicable in different sectors. Moreover, a classification of the methods into destructive, noninvasive, or conservative based on the possible further development of a preimplant quality monitoring system is proposed. Biosensors in musculoskeletal tissue engineering have not yet been used but have been proposed as a novel technology that can be exploited with numerous advantages, including minimal invasiveness, making them suitable for the development of preimplant quality control systems.
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60
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Chrit FE, Raj A, Young KM, Stone NE, Shankles PG, Lokireddy K, Flowers C, Waller EK, Alexeev A, Sulchek T. Microfluidic Platform to Transduce Cell Viability to Distinct Flow Pathways for High-Accuracy Sensing. ACS Sens 2021; 6:3789-3799. [PMID: 34546721 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.1c01770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mechanical properties of cells such as stiffness can act as biomarkers to sort or detect cell functional properties such as viability. In this study, we report the use of a microfluidic device as a high-sensitivity sensor that transduces cell biomechanics to cell separation to accurately detect viability. Cell populations are flowed and deflected at a number of skew ridges such that deflection per ridge, cell-ridge interaction time, and cell size can all be used as sensor inputs to accurately determine the cell state. The angle of the ridges was evaluated to optimize the differences in cell translation between viable and nonviable cells while allowing continuous flow. In the first mode of operation, we flowed viable and nonviable cells through the device and conducted a sensitivity analysis by recording the cell's total deflection as a binary classifier that differentiates viable from nonviable cells. The performance of the sensor was assessed using an area under the curve (AUC) analysis to be 0.97. By including additional sensor inputs in the second mode of operation, we conducted a principal component analysis (PCA) to further improve the identification of the cell state by clustering populations with little overlap between viable and nonviable cells. We therefore found that microfluidic separation devices can be used to efficiently sort cells and accurately sense viability in a label-free manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Ezahra Chrit
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Abhishek Raj
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Katherine M. Young
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Nicholas E. Stone
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Peter G. Shankles
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Kesiharjun Lokireddy
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Christopher Flowers
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory School of Medicine, 1365 Clifton NE Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Edmund K. Waller
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory School of Medicine, 1365 Clifton NE Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Alexander Alexeev
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Todd Sulchek
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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Ulloa LS, Perissinotto F, Rago I, Goldoni A, Santoro R, Pesce M, Casalis L, Scaini D. Carbon Nanotubes Substrates Alleviate Pro-Calcific Evolution in Porcine Valve Interstitial Cells. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11102724. [PMID: 34685165 PMCID: PMC8538037 DOI: 10.3390/nano11102724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The quest for surfaces able to interface cells and modulate their functionality has raised, in recent years, the development of biomaterials endowed with nanocues capable of mimicking the natural extracellular matrix (ECM), especially for tissue regeneration purposes. In this context, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are optimal candidates, showing dimensions and a morphology comparable to fibril ECM constituents. Moreover, when immobilized onto surfaces, they demonstrated outstanding cytocompatibility and ease of chemical modification with ad hoc functionalities. In this study, we interface porcine aortic valve interstitial cells (pVICs) to multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) carpets, investigating the impact of surface nano-morphology on cell properties. The results obtained indicate that CNTs significantly affect cell behavior in terms of cell morphology, cytoskeleton organization, and mechanical properties. We discovered that CNT carpets appear to maintain interfaced pVICs in a sort of “quiescent state”, hampering cell activation into a myofibroblasts-like phenotype morphology, a cellular evolution prodromal to Calcific Aortic Valve Disease (CAVD) and characterized by valve interstitial tissue stiffening. We found that this phenomenon is linked to CNTs’ ability to alter cell tensional homeostasis, interacting with cell plasma membranes, stabilizing focal adhesions and enabling a better strain distribution within cells. Our discovery contributes to shedding new light on the ECM contribution in modulating cell behavior and will open the door to new criteria for designing nanostructured scaffolds to drive cell functionality for tissue engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Severino Ulloa
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (L.S.U.); (F.P.); (I.R.)
| | - Fabio Perissinotto
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (L.S.U.); (F.P.); (I.R.)
| | - Ilaria Rago
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (L.S.U.); (F.P.); (I.R.)
| | - Andrea Goldoni
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Rosaria Santoro
- Unità di Ingegneria Tissutale Cardiovascolare, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy; (R.S.); (M.P.)
| | - Maurizio Pesce
- Unità di Ingegneria Tissutale Cardiovascolare, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy; (R.S.); (M.P.)
| | - Loredana Casalis
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy;
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (D.S.)
| | - Denis Scaini
- Area di Neuroscienze, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (D.S.)
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62
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Taylor MA, Kijas AW, Wang Z, Lauko J, Rowan AE. Heterodyne Brillouin microscopy for biomechanical imaging. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 12:6259-6268. [PMID: 34745734 PMCID: PMC8548004 DOI: 10.1364/boe.435869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microscopic variations in material stiffness play a vital role in cellular scale biomechanics, but are difficult to measure in a natural 3D environment. Brillouin microscopy is a promising technology for such applications, providing non-contact label-free measurement of longitudinal modulus at microscopic resolution. Here we develop heterodyne detection to measure Brillouin scattering signals in a confocal microscope setup, providing sensitive detection with excellent frequency resolution and robust operation in the presence of stray light. The functionality of the microscope is characterized and validated, and the imaging capability demonstrated by imaging structure within both a fibrin fiber network and live cells.
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63
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Non-contact elastography methods in mechanobiology: a point of view. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL: EBJ 2021; 51:99-104. [PMID: 34463775 PMCID: PMC8964566 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-021-01567-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, mechanobiology has emerged as a novel perspective in the context of basic biomedical research. It is now widely recognized that living cells respond not only to chemical stimuli (for example drugs), but they are also able to decipher mechanical cues, such as the rigidity of the underlying matrix or the presence of shear forces. Probing the viscoelastic properties of cells and their local microenvironment with sub-micrometer resolution is required to study this complex interplay and dig deeper into the mechanobiology of single cells. Current approaches to measure mechanical properties of adherent cells mainly rely on the exploitation of miniaturized indenters, to poke single cells while measuring the corresponding deformation. This method provides a neat implementation of the everyday approach to measure mechanical properties of a material, but it typically results in a very low throughput and invasive experimental protocol, poorly translatable towards three-dimensional living tissues and biological constructs. To overcome the main limitations of nanoindentation experiments, a radical paradigm change is foreseen, adopting next generation contact-less methods to measure mechanical properties of biological samples with sub-cell resolution. Here we briefly introduce the field of single cell mechanical characterization, and we concentrate on a promising high resolution optical elastography technique, Brillouin spectroscopy. This non-contact technique is rapidly emerging as a potential breakthrough innovation in biomechanics, but the application to single cells is still in its infancy.
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64
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Singh S, Melnik R. Auxeticity in biosystems: an exemplification of its effects on the mechanobiology of heterogeneous living cells. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2021; 25:521-535. [PMID: 34392740 DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2021.1965129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Auxeticity (negative Poisson's ratio) is the unique mechanical property found in an extensive variety of materials, such as metals, graphene, composites, polymers, foams, fibers, ceramics, zeolites, silicates and biological tissues. The enhanced mechanical features of the auxetic materials have motivated scientists to design, engineer and manufacture man-made auxetic materials to fully leverage their capabilities in different fields of research applications, including aeronautics, medical, protective equipments, smart sensors, filter cleaning, and so on. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) indentation is one of the most widely used methods for characterizing the mechanical properties and response of the living cells. In this contribution, we highlight main consequences of auxeticity for biosystems and provide a representative example to quantify the effect of nucleus auxeticity on the force response of the embryonic stem cells. A parametric study has been conducted on a heterogeneous stem cell to evaluate the effect of nucleus diameter, nucleus elasticity, indenter's shape and location on the force-indentation curve. The developed model has also been validated with the recently reported experimental studies available in the literature. Our results suggest that the nucleus auxeticity plays a profound role in cell mechanics especially for large size nucleus. We also report the mechanical stresses induced within the hyperelastic cell model under different loading conditions that would be quite useful in decoding the interrelations between mechanical stimuli and cellular behavior of auxetic biosystems. Finally, current and potential areas of applications of our findings for regenerative therapies, tissue engineering, 3 D/4D bioprinting, and the development of meta-biomaterials are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sundeep Singh
- MS2Discovery Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Roderick Melnik
- MS2Discovery Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.,BCAM - Basque Center for Applied Mathematics, Bilbao, Spain
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65
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Meng X, Kukura P, Faez S. Sensing force and charge at the nanoscale with a single-molecule tether. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:12687-12696. [PMID: 34477619 PMCID: PMC8319944 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr01970h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Measuring the electrophoretic mobility of molecules is a powerful experimental approach for investigating biomolecular processes. A frequent challenge in the context of single-particle measurements is throughput, limiting the obtainable statistics. Here, we present a molecular force sensor and charge detector based on parallelised imaging and tracking of tethered double-stranded DNA functionalised with charged nanoparticles interacting with an externally applied electric field. Tracking the position of the tethered particle with simultaneous nanometre precision and microsecond temporal resolution allows us to detect and quantify the electrophoretic force down to the sub-piconewton scale. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this approach is suitable for detecting changes to the particle charge state, as induced by the addition of charged biomolecules or changes to pH. Our approach provides an alternative route to studying structural and charge dynamics at the single molecule level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanhui Meng
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of OxfordSouth Parks RoadOX1 3QZ OxfordUK
| | - Philipp Kukura
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of OxfordSouth Parks RoadOX1 3QZ OxfordUK
| | - Sanli Faez
- Nanophotonics, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Research, Utrecht UniversityNLThe Netherlands
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Browning AP, Maclaren OJ, Buenzli PR, Lanaro M, Allenby MC, Woodruff MA, Simpson MJ. Model-based data analysis of tissue growth in thin 3D printed scaffolds. J Theor Biol 2021; 528:110852. [PMID: 34358535 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2021.110852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Tissue growth in three-dimensional (3D) printed scaffolds enables exploration and control of cell behaviour in more biologically realistic geometries than that allowed by traditional 2D cell culture. Cell proliferation and migration in these experiments have yet to be explicitly characterised, limiting the ability of experimentalists to determine the effects of various experimental conditions, such as scaffold geometry, on cell behaviour. We consider tissue growth by osteoblastic cells in melt electro-written scaffolds that comprise thin square pores with sizes that were deliberately increased between experiments. We collect highly detailed temporal measurements of the average cell density, tissue coverage, and tissue geometry. To quantify tissue growth in terms of the underlying cell proliferation and migration processes, we introduce and calibrate a mechanistic mathematical model based on the Porous-Fisher reaction-diffusion equation. Parameter estimates and uncertainty quantification through profile likelihood analysis reveal consistency in the rate of cell proliferation and steady-state cell density between pore sizes. This analysis also serves as an important model verification tool: while the use of reaction-diffusion models in biology is widespread, the appropriateness of these models to describe tissue growth in 3D scaffolds has yet to be explored. We find that the Porous-Fisher model is able to capture features relating to the cell density and tissue coverage, but is not able to capture geometric features relating to the circularity of the tissue interface. Our analysis identifies two distinct stages of tissue growth, suggests several areas for model refinement, and provides guidance for future experimental work that explores tissue growth in 3D printed scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander P Browning
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers, QUT, Australia.
| | - Oliver J Maclaren
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Pascal R Buenzli
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Matthew Lanaro
- School of Mechanical, Medical & Process Engineering, Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Mark C Allenby
- School of Mechanical, Medical & Process Engineering, Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Maria A Woodruff
- School of Mechanical, Medical & Process Engineering, Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Matthew J Simpson
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers, QUT, Australia
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Haneef K, Ghaffar Memon A, Saleem R, Batool F, Sadeeq M. B cell receptor (BCR) guided mechanotransduction: Critical hypothesis to instruct SARS-CoV-2 specific B cells to trigger proximal signalling and antibody reshaping. Med Hypotheses 2021; 153:110640. [PMID: 34271511 PMCID: PMC8259033 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2021.110640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, has spread around the globe with remarkable consequences for the health of millions of people. Despite the approval of mRNA vaccines to prevent the spread of infection, long-term immunity must still be monitored. Targeting and modifying virus receptor binding regions to activate B cell receptors (BCRs) is a promising way to develop long-term immunity against SARS-CoV-2. After the interaction of antigens, BCRs undergo series of signal transduction events through phosphorylation of immune receptor tyrosine activation motifs (ITAMs) to produce neutralizing antibodies against pathogens. BCRs intricate entity displays remarkable capability to translate the external mechanosensing cues to reshape the immune mechanism. However, potential investigations suggesting how SARS-CoV-2 specific B cells respond to mechanosensing cues remain obscure. This study proposes a sophisticated hypothesis explaining how B cells isolated from the CP of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients may undergo a triggered series of B cell activation, BCR dynamics, proximal signalling, and antibody production on PDMS-embedded in-vitro antigen-presenting structures (APCs). These studies could provide detailed insights in the future for the development of structural and therapeutic entanglements to fight against pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kabeer Haneef
- School of Life Sciences, Institute for Immunology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Abdul Ghaffar Memon
- Department of Environmental Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Rabia Saleem
- Oncology Ward, Children Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Farwa Batool
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Mohd Sadeeq
- School of Agriculture Sciences and Food Technology, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China
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68
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Effects of Non-thermal Ultrasound on a Fibroblast Monolayer Culture: Influence of Pulse Number and Pulse Repetition Frequency. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21155040. [PMID: 34372277 PMCID: PMC8347617 DOI: 10.3390/s21155040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Despite the use of therapeutic ultrasound in the treatment of soft tissue pathologies, there remains some controversy regarding its efficacy. In order to develop new treatment protocols, it is a common practice to carry out in vitro studies in cell cultures before conducting animal tests. The lack of reproducibility of the experimental results observed in the literature concerning in vitro experiments motivated us to establish a methodology for characterizing the acoustic field in culture plate wells. In this work, such acoustic fields are fully characterized in a real experimental configuration, with the transducer being placed in contact with the surface of a standard 12-well culture plate. To study the non-thermal effects of ultrasound on fibroblasts, two different treatment protocols are proposed: long pulse (200 cycles) signals, which give rise to a standing wave in the well with the presence of cavitation (ISPTP max = 19.25 W/cm2), and a short pulse (five cycles) of high acoustic pressure, which produces a number of echoes in the cavity (ISPTP = 33.1 W/cm2, with Pmax = 1.01 MPa). The influence of the acoustic intensity, the number of pulses, and the pulse repetition frequency was studied. We further analyzed the correlation of these acoustic parameters with cell viability, population, occupied surface, and cell morphology. Lytic effects when cavitation was present, as well as mechanotransduction reactions, were observed.
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69
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Kolb P, Schundner A, Frick M, Gottschalk KE. In Vitro Measurements of Cellular Forces and their Importance in the Lung-From the Sub- to the Multicellular Scale. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:691. [PMID: 34357063 PMCID: PMC8307149 DOI: 10.3390/life11070691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout life, the body is subjected to various mechanical forces on the organ, tissue, and cellular level. Mechanical stimuli are essential for organ development and function. One organ whose function depends on the tightly connected interplay between mechanical cell properties, biochemical signaling, and external forces is the lung. However, altered mechanical properties or excessive mechanical forces can also drive the onset and progression of severe pulmonary diseases. Characterizing the mechanical properties and forces that affect cell and tissue function is therefore necessary for understanding physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms. In recent years, multiple methods have been developed for cellular force measurements at multiple length scales, from subcellular forces to measuring the collective behavior of heterogeneous cellular networks. In this short review, we give a brief overview of the mechanical forces at play on the cellular level in the lung. We then focus on the technological aspects of measuring cellular forces at many length scales. We describe tools with a subcellular resolution and elaborate measurement techniques for collective multicellular units. Many of the technologies described are by no means restricted to lung research and have already been applied successfully to cells from various other tissues. However, integrating the knowledge gained from these multi-scale measurements in a unifying framework is still a major future challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kolb
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Annika Schundner
- Institute of General Physiology, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Manfred Frick
- Institute of General Physiology, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Kay-E. Gottschalk
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany;
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70
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Osuchowska PN, Wachulak P, Kasprzycka W, Nowak-Stępniowska A, Wakuła M, Bartnik A, Fiedorowicz H, Trafny EA. Adhesion of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells under Fluorescent and Soft X-ray Contact Microscopy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147279. [PMID: 34298899 PMCID: PMC8306697 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding cancer cell adhesion could help to diminish tumor progression and metastasis. Adhesion mechanisms are currently the main therapeutic target of TNBC-resistant cells. This work shows the distribution and size of adhesive complexes determined with a common fluorescence microscopy technique and soft X-ray contact microscopy (SXCM). The results presented here demonstrate the potential of applying SXCM for imaging cell protrusions with high resolution when the cells are still alive in a physiological buffer. The possibility to observe the internal components of cells at a pristine and hydrated state with nanometer resolution distinguishes SXCM from the other more commonly used techniques for cell imaging. Thus, SXCM can be a promising technique for investigating the adhesion and organization of the actin cytoskeleton in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Natalia Osuchowska
- Biomedical Engineering Centre, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, Kaliskiego 2, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (P.N.O.); (W.K.); (A.N.-S.)
| | - Przemysław Wachulak
- Laser Technology Division, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, Kaliskiego 2, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (P.W.); (A.B.)
| | - Wiktoria Kasprzycka
- Biomedical Engineering Centre, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, Kaliskiego 2, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (P.N.O.); (W.K.); (A.N.-S.)
| | - Agata Nowak-Stępniowska
- Biomedical Engineering Centre, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, Kaliskiego 2, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (P.N.O.); (W.K.); (A.N.-S.)
| | - Maciej Wakuła
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Roentgena 5, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (M.W.); (H.F.)
| | - Andrzej Bartnik
- Laser Technology Division, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, Kaliskiego 2, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (P.W.); (A.B.)
| | - Henryk Fiedorowicz
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Roentgena 5, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (M.W.); (H.F.)
| | - Elżbieta Anna Trafny
- Biomedical Engineering Centre, Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, Kaliskiego 2, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland; (P.N.O.); (W.K.); (A.N.-S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-261-839-544
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71
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Adelson RP, Palikuqi B, Weiss Z, Checco A, Schreiner R, Rafii S, Rabbany SY. Morphological characterization of Etv2 vascular explants using fractal analysis and atomic force microscopy. Microvasc Res 2021; 138:104205. [PMID: 34146583 DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2021.104205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The rapid engraftment of vascular networks is critical for functional incorporation of tissue explants. However, existing methods for inducing angiogenesis utilize approaches that yield vasculature with poor temporal stability or inadequate mechanical integrity, which reduce their robustness in vivo. The transcription factor Ets variant 2 (Etv2) specifies embryonic hematopoietic and vascular endothelial cell (EC) development, and is transiently reactivated during postnatal vascular regeneration and tumor angiogenesis. This study investigates the role for Etv2 upregulation in forming stable vascular beds both in vitro and in vivo. Control and Etv2+ prototypical fetal-derived human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) and adult ECs were angiogenically grown into vascular beds. These vessel beds were characterized using fractal dimension and lacunarity, to quantify their branching complexity and space-filling homogeneity, respectively. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to explore whether greater complexity and homogeneity lead to more mechanically stable vessels. Additionally, markers of EC integrity were used to probe for mechanistic clues. Etv2+ HUVECs exhibit greater branching, vessel density, and structural homogeneity, and decreased stiffness in vitro and in vivo, indicating a greater propensity for stable vessel formation. When co-cultured with colon tumor organoid tissue, Etv2+ HUVECs had decreased fractal dimension and lacunarity compared to Etv2+ HUVECs cultured alone, indicating that vessel density and homogeneity of vessel spacing increased due to the presence of Etv2. This study sets forth the novel concept that fractal dimension, lacunarity, and AFM are as informative as conventional angiogenic measurements, including vessel branching and density, to assess vascular perfusion and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert P Adelson
- Bioengineering Program, DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Brisa Palikuqi
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Ansary Stem Cell Institute, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zachary Weiss
- Bioengineering Program, DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Antonio Checco
- Bioengineering Program, DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Ryan Schreiner
- Department of Ophthalmology, Margaret Dyson Vision Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shahin Rafii
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Ansary Stem Cell Institute, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sina Y Rabbany
- Bioengineering Program, DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA; Division of Regenerative Medicine, Ansary Stem Cell Institute, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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72
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Nguyen A, Brandt M, Muenker TM, Betz T. Multi-oscillation microrheology via acoustic force spectroscopy enables frequency-dependent measurements on endothelial cells at high-throughput. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:1929-1947. [PMID: 34008613 PMCID: PMC8130676 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc01135e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Active microrheology is one of the main methods to determine the mechanical properties of cells and tissue, and the modelling of these viscoelastic properties is under heavy debate with many competing approaches. Most experimental methods of active microrheology such as optical tweezers or atomic force microscopy based approaches rely on single cell measurements, and thus suffer from a low throughput. Here, we present a novel method for frequency-dependent microrheology on cells using acoustic forces which allows multiplexed measurements of several cells in parallel. Acoustic force spectroscopy (AFS) is used to generate multi-oscillatory forces in the range of pN-nN on particles attached to primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) cultivated inside a microfluidic chip. While the AFS was introduced as a single-molecule technique to measure mechanochemical properties of biomolecules, we exploit the AFS to measure the dynamic viscoelastic properties of cells exposed to different conditions, such as flow shear stresses or drug injections. By controlling the force and measuring the position of the particle, the complex shear modulus G*(ω) can be measured continuously over several hours. The resulting power-law shear moduli are consistent with fractional viscoelastic models. In our experiments we confirm a decrease in shear modulus after perturbing the actin cytoskeleton via cytochalasin B. This effect was reversible after washing out the drug. Additionally, we include critical information for the usage of the new method AFS as a measurement tool showing its capabilities and limitations and we find that for performing viscoelastic measurements with the AFS, a thorough calibration and careful data analysis is crucial, for which we provide protocols and guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred Nguyen
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
| | - Matthias Brandt
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
| | - Till M Muenker
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany. and Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Timo Betz
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany. and Third Institute of Physics-Biophysics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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73
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Sousa de Almeida M, Susnik E, Drasler B, Taladriz-Blanco P, Petri-Fink A, Rothen-Rutishauser B. Understanding nanoparticle endocytosis to improve targeting strategies in nanomedicine. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:5397-5434. [PMID: 33666625 PMCID: PMC8111542 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01127d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 351] [Impact Index Per Article: 117.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted considerable attention in various fields, such as cosmetics, the food industry, material design, and nanomedicine. In particular, the fast-moving field of nanomedicine takes advantage of features of NPs for the detection and treatment of different types of cancer, fibrosis, inflammation, arthritis as well as neurodegenerative and gastrointestinal diseases. To this end, a detailed understanding of the NP uptake mechanisms by cells and intracellular localization is essential for safe and efficient therapeutic applications. In the first part of this review, we describe the several endocytic pathways involved in the internalization of NPs and we discuss the impact of the physicochemical properties of NPs on this process. In addition, the potential challenges of using various inhibitors, endocytic markers and genetic approaches to study endocytosis are addressed along with the principal (semi) quantification methods of NP uptake. The second part focuses on synthetic and bio-inspired substances, which can stimulate or decrease the cellular uptake of NPs. This approach could be interesting in nanomedicine where a high accumulation of drugs in the target cells is desirable and clearance by immune cells is to be avoided. This review contributes to an improved understanding of NP endocytic pathways and reveals potential substances, which can be used in nanomedicine to improve NP delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Sousa de Almeida
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of FribourgChemin des Verdiers 41700 FribourgSwitzerland
| | - Eva Susnik
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of FribourgChemin des Verdiers 41700 FribourgSwitzerland
| | - Barbara Drasler
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of FribourgChemin des Verdiers 41700 FribourgSwitzerland
| | | | - Alke Petri-Fink
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of FribourgChemin des Verdiers 41700 FribourgSwitzerland
- Department of Chemistry, University of FribourgChemin du Musée 91700 FribourgSwitzerland
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74
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Hang X, He S, Dong Z, Minnick G, Rosenbohm J, Chen Z, Yang R, Chang L. Nanosensors for single cell mechanical interrogation. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 179:113086. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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75
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Kandy SK, Janmey PA, Radhakrishnan R. Membrane signalosome: where biophysics meets systems biology. CURRENT OPINION IN SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2021; 25:34-41. [PMID: 33997528 PMCID: PMC8117111 DOI: 10.1016/j.coisb.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
We opine on the recent advances in experiments and modeling of modular signaling complexes assembled on mammalian cell membranes (membrane signalosomes) in the context of several applications including intracellular trafficking, cell migration, and immune response. Characterizing the individual components of the membrane assemblies at the nanoscale, ranging from protein-lipid and protein-protein interactions, to membrane morphology, and the energetics of emergent assemblies at the subcellular to cellular scales pose significant challenges. Overcoming these challenges through the iterative coupling of multiscale modeling and experiment can be transformative in terms of addressing the gaps between structural biology and super-resolution microscopy, as it holds the key to the discovery of fundamental mechanisms behind the emergence of function in the membrane signalosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreeja K Kandy
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Paul A Janmey
- Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Ravi Radhakrishnan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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76
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Miranda A, Gómez-Varela AI, Stylianou A, Hirvonen LM, Sánchez H, De Beule PAA. How did correlative atomic force microscopy and super-resolution microscopy evolve in the quest for unravelling enigmas in biology? NANOSCALE 2021; 13:2082-2099. [PMID: 33346312 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr07203f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
With the invention of the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) in 1986 and the subsequent developments in liquid imaging and cellular imaging it became possible to study the topography of cellular specimens under nearly physiological conditions with nanometric resolution. The application of AFM to biological research was further expanded with the technological advances in imaging modes where topographical data can be combined with nanomechanical measurements, offering the possibility to retrieve the biophysical properties of tissues, cells, fibrous components and biomolecules. Meanwhile, the quest for breaking the Abbe diffraction limit restricting microscopic resolution led to the development of super-resolution fluorescence microscopy techniques that brought the resolution of the light microscope comparable to the resolution obtained by AFM. The instrumental combination of AFM and optical microscopy techniques has evolved over the last decades from integration of AFM with bright-field and phase-contrast imaging techniques at first to correlative AFM and wide-field fluorescence systems and then further to the combination of AFM and fluorescence based super-resolution microscopy modalities. Motivated by the many developments made over the last decade, we provide here a review on AFM combined with super-resolution fluorescence microscopy techniques and how they can be applied for expanding our understanding of biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelaide Miranda
- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Avenida Mestre José Veiga s/n, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Ana I Gómez-Varela
- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Avenida Mestre José Veiga s/n, Braga, Portugal. and Department of Applied Physics, University of Santiago de Compostela, E-15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Andreas Stylianou
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus and School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Liisa M Hirvonen
- Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis (CMCA), The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Humberto Sánchez
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter A A De Beule
- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Avenida Mestre José Veiga s/n, Braga, Portugal.
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77
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Methods for Studying Endometrial Pathology and the Potential of Atomic Force Microscopy in the Research of Endometrium. Cells 2021; 10:cells10020219. [PMID: 33499261 PMCID: PMC7911798 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The endometrium lines the uterine cavity, enables implantation of the embryo, and provides an environment for its development and growth. Numerous methods, including microscopic and immunoenzymatic techniques, have been used to study the properties of the cells and tissue of the endometrium to understand changes during, e.g., the menstrual cycle or implantation. Taking into account the existing state of knowledge on the endometrium and the research carried out using other tissues, it can be concluded that the mechanical properties of the tissue and its cells are crucial for their proper functioning. This review intends to emphasize the potential of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the research of endometrium properties. AFM enables imaging of tissues or single cells, roughness analysis, and determination of the mechanical properties (Young’s modulus) of single cells or tissues, or their adhesion. AFM has been previously shown to be useful to derive force maps. Combining the information regarding cell mechanics with the alternations of cell morphology or gene/protein expression provides deeper insight into the uterine pathology. The determination of the elastic modulus of cells in pathological states, such as cancer, has been proved to be useful in diagnostics.
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78
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Gil-Redondo JC, Iturri J, Ortega F, Pérez-Sen R, Weber A, Miras-Portugal MT, Toca-Herrera JL, Delicado EG. Nucleotides-Induced Changes in the Mechanical Properties of Living Endothelial Cells and Astrocytes, Analyzed by Atomic Force Microscopy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020624. [PMID: 33435130 PMCID: PMC7827192 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells and astrocytes preferentially express metabotropic P2Y nucleotide receptors, which are involved in the maintenance of vascular and neural function. Among these, P2Y1 and P2Y2 receptors appear as main actors, since their stimulation induces intracellular calcium mobilization and activates signaling cascades linked to cytoskeletal reorganization. In the present work, we have analyzed, by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in force spectroscopy mode, the mechanical response of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and astrocytes upon 2MeSADP and UTP stimulation. This approach allows for simultaneous measurement of variations in factors such as Young’s modulus, maximum adhesion force and rupture event formation, which reflect the potential changes in both the stiffness and adhesiveness of the plasma membrane. The largest effect was observed in both endothelial cells and astrocytes after P2Y2 receptor stimulation with UTP. Such exposure to UTP doubled the Young’s modulus and reduced both the adhesion force and the number of rupture events. In astrocytes, 2MeSADP stimulation also had a remarkable effect on AFM parameters. Additional studies performed with the selective P2Y1 and P2Y13 receptor antagonists revealed that the 2MeSADP-induced mechanical changes were mediated by the P2Y13 receptor, although they were negatively modulated by P2Y1 receptor stimulation. Hence, our results demonstrate that AFM can be a very useful tool to evaluate functional native nucleotide receptors in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Gil-Redondo
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdiSSC), Universidad Complutense Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.C.G.-R.); (R.P.-S.); (M.T.M.-P.)
- Department of Nanobiotechnology (DNBT), Institute for Biophysics, BOKU University for Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 11 (Simon Zeisel Haus), A-1190 Vienna, Austria; (A.W.); (J.L.T.-H.)
| | - Jagoba Iturri
- Department of Nanobiotechnology (DNBT), Institute for Biophysics, BOKU University for Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 11 (Simon Zeisel Haus), A-1190 Vienna, Austria; (A.W.); (J.L.T.-H.)
- Correspondence: (J.I.); (F.O.); (E.G.D.); Tel.: +43-1-47654-80354 (J.I.); +34-91-394-3892 (E.G.D.)
| | - Felipe Ortega
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdiSSC), Universidad Complutense Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.C.G.-R.); (R.P.-S.); (M.T.M.-P.)
- Correspondence: (J.I.); (F.O.); (E.G.D.); Tel.: +43-1-47654-80354 (J.I.); +34-91-394-3892 (E.G.D.)
| | - Raquel Pérez-Sen
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdiSSC), Universidad Complutense Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.C.G.-R.); (R.P.-S.); (M.T.M.-P.)
| | - Andreas Weber
- Department of Nanobiotechnology (DNBT), Institute for Biophysics, BOKU University for Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 11 (Simon Zeisel Haus), A-1190 Vienna, Austria; (A.W.); (J.L.T.-H.)
| | - María Teresa Miras-Portugal
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdiSSC), Universidad Complutense Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.C.G.-R.); (R.P.-S.); (M.T.M.-P.)
| | - José Luis Toca-Herrera
- Department of Nanobiotechnology (DNBT), Institute for Biophysics, BOKU University for Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 11 (Simon Zeisel Haus), A-1190 Vienna, Austria; (A.W.); (J.L.T.-H.)
| | - Esmerilda G. Delicado
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Neuroquímica (IUIN), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdiSSC), Universidad Complutense Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.C.G.-R.); (R.P.-S.); (M.T.M.-P.)
- Correspondence: (J.I.); (F.O.); (E.G.D.); Tel.: +43-1-47654-80354 (J.I.); +34-91-394-3892 (E.G.D.)
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79
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Dal Lin C, Radu CM, Vitiello G, Romano P, Polcari A, Iliceto S, Simioni P, Tona F. Sounds Stimulation on In Vitro HL1 Cells: A Pilot Study and a Theoretical Physical Model. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010156. [PMID: 33375749 PMCID: PMC7796405 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanical vibrations seem to affect the behaviour of different cell types and the functions of different organs. Pressure waves, including acoustic waves (sounds), could affect cytoskeletal molecules via coherent changes in their spatial organization and mechano-transduction signalling. We analyzed the sounds spectra and their fractal features. Cardiac muscle HL1 cells were exposed to different sounds, were stained for cytoskeletal markers (phalloidin, beta-actin, alpha-tubulin, alpha-actinin-1), and studied with multifractal analysis (using FracLac for ImageJ). A single cell was live-imaged and its dynamic contractility changes in response to each different sound were analysed (using Musclemotion for ImageJ). Different sound stimuli seem to influence the contractility and the spatial organization of HL1 cells, resulting in a different localization and fluorescence emission of cytoskeletal proteins. Since the cellular behaviour seems to correlate with the fractal structure of the sound used, we speculate that it can influence the cells by virtue of the different sound waves’ geometric properties that we have photographed and filmed. A theoretical physical model is proposed to explain our results, based on the coherent molecular dynamics. We stress the role of the systemic view in the understanding of the biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Dal Lin
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University Medical School, 35100 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (F.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-049-8218642; Fax: +39-049-8211802
| | - Claudia Maria Radu
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy;
- Department of Medicine, Thrombotic and Haemorrhagic Diseases Unit, Veneto Region Haemophilia and Thrombophilia Centre, University of Padua Medical School, 35100 Padua, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Vitiello
- Department of Physics “E.R. Caianiello”, Salerno University, Fisciano, 84084 Salerno, Italy;
| | - Paola Romano
- Department of Sciences and Technologies, Sannio University, 82100 Benevento, Italy;
- CNR-SPIN Salerno, Baronissi, 84084 Salerno, Italy
| | | | - Sabino Iliceto
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University Medical School, 35100 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (F.T.)
| | - Paolo Simioni
- Department of Medicine, Thrombotic and Haemorrhagic Diseases Unit, Veneto Region Haemophilia and Thrombophilia Centre, University of Padua Medical School, 35100 Padua, Italy;
| | - Francesco Tona
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University Medical School, 35100 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (F.T.)
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80
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Weber A, Zbiral B, Iturri J, Benitez R, Toca-Herrera JL. Measuring (biological) materials mechanics with atomic force microscopy. 2. Influence of the loading rate and applied force (colloidal particles). Microsc Res Tech 2020; 84:1078-1088. [PMID: 33179834 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.23643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is the most often used tool to study the mechanical properties of eukaryotic cells. Due to their complex assembly, cells show viscoelastic properties. When performing experiments, one has to consider the influence of both loading rate and maximum load on the measured mechanical properties. Here, we employed colloidal particles of various sizes (from 2 to 20 μm diameter) to perform force spectroscopy measurements on endothelial cells at loading rates varying from 0.1 to 50 μm/s, and maximum loads ranging from 1 to 25 nN. We were able to determine the non-linear dependence of cell viscoelastic properties on the loading rate which followed a weak power law. In addition, we show that previous loading at high forces leads to a stiffening of cells. Based on these results we discuss a road map for determining cell mechanical properties using AFM. Finally, this work provides an experimental framework for cell mechanical measurements using force-cycle experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Weber
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute for Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara Zbiral
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute for Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jagoba Iturri
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute for Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Rafael Benitez
- Departamento de Matemáticas para la Economía y la Empresa, Facultad de Economía, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - José L Toca-Herrera
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute for Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
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81
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Suter N, Stebel S, Rianna C, Radmacher M, Brüggemann D. Spatial patterning of nanofibrous collagen scaffolds modulates fibroblast morphology. Biofabrication 2020; 13:015007. [DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/abb744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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82
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Sarin H. Pressure regulated basis for gene transcription by delta-cell micro-compliance modeled in silico: Biphenyl, bisphenol and small molecule ligand models of cell contraction-expansion. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0236446. [PMID: 33021979 PMCID: PMC7537880 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular diameter, lipophilicity and hydrophilicity exclusion affinity limits exist for small molecule carrier-mediated diffusion or transport through channel pores or interaction with the cell surface glycocalyx. The molecular structure lipophilicity limit for non-specific carrier-mediated transmembrane diffusion through polarity-selective transport channels of the cell membrane is Lexternal structure ∙ Hpolar group-1 of ≥ 1.07. The cell membrane channel pore size is > 0.752 and < 0.758 nm based on a 3-D ellipsoid model (biphenyl), and within the molecular diameter size range 0.744 and 0.762 nm based on a 2-D elliptical model (alkanol). The adjusted van der Waals diameter (vdWD, adj; nm) for the subset of halogenated vapors is predictive of the required MAC for anesthetic potency at an initial (-) Δ Cmicro effect. The molecular structure L ∙ Hpolar group-1 for Neu5Ac is 0.080, and the L ∙ Hpolar group-1 interval range for the cell surface glycocalyx hydrophilicity barrier interaction is 0.101 (Saxitoxin, Stx; Linternal structure ∙ Hpolar group-1) - 0.092 (m-xylenediamine, Lexternal structure · Hpolar group). Differential predictive effective pressure mapping of gene activation or repression reveals that p-dioxin exposure results in activation of AhR-Erβ (Arnt)/Nrf-2, Pparδ, Errγ (LxRα), Dio3 (Dio2) and Trα limbs, and due to high affinity Dio2 and Dio3 (OH-TriCDD, Lext · H-1: 1.91–4.31) exothermy-antagonism (Δ contraction) with high affinity T4/rT3-TRα-mediated agonism (Δ expansion). co-planar PCB metabolite exposure (Lext · H-1: 1.95–3.91) results in activation of AhR (Erα/β)/Nrf2, Rev-Erbβ, Errα, Dio3 (Dio2) and Trα limbs with a Δ Cmicro contraction of 0.89 and Δ Cmicro expansion of 1.05 as compared to p-dioxin. co-, ortho-planar PCB metabolite exposure results in activation of Car/PxR, Pparα (Srebf1,—Lxrβ), Arnt (AhR-Erβ), AR, Dio1 (Dio2) and Trβ limbs with a Δ Cmicro contraction of 0.73 and Δ Cmicro expansion of 1.18 (as compared to p-dioxin). Bisphenol A exposure (Lext struct ∙ H-1: 1.08–1.12, BPA–BPE, Errγ; BPAF, Lext struct ∙ H-1: 1.23, CM Erα, β) results in increased duration at Peff for Timm8b (Peff 0.247) transcription and in indirect activation of the AhR/Nrf-2 hybrid pathway with decreased duration at Peff 0.200 (Nrf1) and increased duration at Peff 0.257 (Dffa). The Bpa/Bpaf convergent pathway Cmicro contraction-expansion response increase in the lower Peff interval is 0.040; in comparison, small molecule hormone Δ Cmicro contraction-expansion response increases in the lower Peff intervals for gene expression ≤ 0.168 (Dex· GR) ≥ 0.156 (Dht · AR), with grade of duration at Peff (min·count) of 1.33x105 (Dex/Cort) and 1.8–2.53x105 (Dht/R1881) as compared to the (-) coupled (+) Δ CmicroPeff to 0.136 (Wnt5a, Esr2) with applied DES (1.86x106). The subtype of trans-differentiated cell as a result of an applied toxin or toxicant is predictable by delta-Cmicro determined by Peff mapping. Study findings offer additional perspective on the basis for pressure regulated gene transcription by alterations in cell micro-compliance (Δ contraction-expansion, Cmicro), and are applicable for the further predictive modeling of gene to gene transcription interactions, and small molecule modulation of cell effective pressure (Peff) and its potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemant Sarin
- Freelance Investigator in Translational Science and Medicine, Charleston, West Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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83
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Rheinlaender J, Dimitracopoulos A, Wallmeyer B, Kronenberg NM, Chalut KJ, Gather MC, Betz T, Charras G, Franze K. Cortical cell stiffness is independent of substrate mechanics. NATURE MATERIALS 2020; 19:1019-1025. [PMID: 32451510 PMCID: PMC7610513 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-020-0684-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Cortical stiffness is an important cellular property that changes during migration, adhesion and growth. Previous atomic force microscopy (AFM) indentation measurements of cells cultured on deformable substrates have suggested that cells adapt their stiffness to that of their surroundings. Here we show that the force applied by AFM to a cell results in a significant deformation of the underlying substrate if this substrate is softer than the cell. This 'soft substrate effect' leads to an underestimation of a cell's elastic modulus when analysing data using a standard Hertz model, as confirmed by finite element modelling and AFM measurements of calibrated polyacrylamide beads, microglial cells and fibroblasts. To account for this substrate deformation, we developed a 'composite cell-substrate model'. Correcting for the substrate indentation revealed that cortical cell stiffness is largely independent of substrate mechanics, which has major implications for our interpretation of many physiological and pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Rheinlaender
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Andrea Dimitracopoulos
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bernhard Wallmeyer
- Centre for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Institute of Cell Biology, Excellence Cluster Cells in Motion, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Nils M Kronenberg
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
- Centre for Nanobiophotonics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kevin J Chalut
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Malte C Gather
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
- Centre for Nanobiophotonics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Timo Betz
- Centre for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, Institute of Cell Biology, Excellence Cluster Cells in Motion, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Guillaume Charras
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kristian Franze
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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84
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Yang Y, Bu X, Zhang X. Regulation Mechanism of Bubbling Deformation and Fracture Toughness of the Membrane by Asymmetric Phospholipids: A Model System Study. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:10138-10146. [PMID: 32787040 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c01580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic regulation of the deformation modulus and fracture toughness of a membrane is critical to organelles and cells for matching their conflicting needs of resilient and fractured behaviors. These properties implement the protection of the function in the normal condition and the fission function in the endocytosis condition of a membrane. Naturally, a membrane contains phospholipids that have different hydrophilic and hydrophobic group length. The diffusion and aggregation of the phospholipids with asymmetry of the hydrophilic-hydrophobic ratio on the membrane play a key role in regulating the mechanical behaviors passively to the external force. In present work, the effects of the asymmetry of phospholipids on the bubbling deformation and fracture toughness of the membrane to external stretching are investigated in a model system. A disk-shaped micelle formed from the blend of symmetric and asymmetric diblock copolymers in a selective solvent is considered as the membrane sheet. Its mechanically responsive behaviors are investigated by self-consistent field theory. By analyzing the evolution of different components during the stretching process, the mechanism of formation of the bubbling structure is revealed. Moreover, the fracture toughness depending on the asymmetry of the phospholipids is determined quantitatively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- School of Science, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Xiangyu Bu
- School of Science, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Xinghua Zhang
- School of Science, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, PR China
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85
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Moura CC, Miranda A, Oreffo ROC, De Beule PAA. Correlative fluorescence and atomic force microscopy to advance the bio-physical characterisation of co-culture of living cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 529:392-397. [PMID: 32703441 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
An understanding of the cell mechanical properties involved in numerous cellular processes including cell division, cell migration/invasion, and cell morphology, is crucial in developing and informing cell physiology and function. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers a powerful biophysical technique that facilitates the imaging of living cells under physiological buffer conditions. However, AFM in isolation cannot discriminate between different cell types within heterogeneous samples for example in a solid biopsy. The current studies demonstrate the potential of AFM in combination with correlative fluorescence optical sectioning microscopy for live cell imaging. Furthermore, this work establishes the advantage of fluorescence-AFM imaging to distinguish and analyse single-cell bio-physical properties in mixed human cell populations, in real-time. Critically, our results show that correlative fluorescence-AFM imaging allows the simultaneous co-localised detection of fluorescence coupled with nano-mechanical mapping. The findings from this work contribute to the promotion and dissemination of correlative multimodal imaging in life sciences, providing a platform for further investigations in biological and pre-clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Costa Moura
- INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Avenida Mestre José Veiga, 4715-330, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Adelaide Miranda
- INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Avenida Mestre José Veiga, 4715-330, Braga, Portugal
| | - Richard O C Oreffo
- Bone and Joint Research Group, Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration, Institute of Developmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Pieter A A De Beule
- INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Avenida Mestre José Veiga, 4715-330, Braga, Portugal
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86
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Stone NE, Voigt AP, Cooke JA, Giacalone JC, Hanasoge S, Mullins RF, Tucker BA, Sulchek T. Label-free microfluidic enrichment of photoreceptor cells. Exp Eye Res 2020; 199:108166. [PMID: 32771499 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinal degenerative disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa and Usher syndrome are characterized by progressive death of photoreceptor cells. To restore vision to patients blinded by these diseases, a stem cell-based photoreceptor cell replacement strategy will likely be required. Although retinal stem cell differentiation protocols suitable for generating photoreceptor cells exist, they often yield a rather heterogenous mixture of cell types. To enrich the donor cell population for one or a few cell types, scientists have traditionally relied upon the use of antibody-based selection approaches. However, these strategies are quite labor intensive and require animal derived reagents and equipment that are not well suited to current good manufacturing practices (cGMP). The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a microfluidic cell sorting device capable of exploiting the physical and mechanical differences between retinal cell types to enrich specific donor cell populations such as Retinal Pigment Epithelial (RPE) cells and photoreceptor cells. Using this device, we were able to separate a mixture of RPE and iPSC-derived photoreceptor precursor cell lines into two substantially enriched fractions. The enrichment factor of the RPE fraction was 2 and that of the photoreceptor precursor cell fraction was 2.7. Similarly, when human retina, obtained from 3 independent donors, was dissociated and passed through the sorting device, the heterogeneous mixture could be reliably sorted into RPE and photoreceptor cell rich fractions. In summary, microfluidic cell sorting is a promising approach for antibody free enrichment of retinal cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas E Stone
- The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Andrew P Voigt
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Jessica A Cooke
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Joseph C Giacalone
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Srinivas Hanasoge
- The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Robert F Mullins
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Budd A Tucker
- Institute for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Todd Sulchek
- The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
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87
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Ferreira JPS, Kuang M, Parente MPL, Natal Jorge RM, Wang R, Eppell SJ, Damaser M. Altered mechanics of vaginal smooth muscle cells due to the lysyl oxidase-like1 knockout. Acta Biomater 2020; 110:175-187. [PMID: 32335309 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.03.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The remodeling mechanisms that cause connective tissue of the vaginal wall, consisting mostly of smooth muscle, to weaken after vaginal delivery are not fully understood. Abnormal remodeling after delivery can contribute to development of pelvic organ prolapse and other pelvic floor disorders. The present study used vaginal smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) isolated from knockout mice lacking the expression of the lysyl oxidase-like1 (LOXL1) enzyme, a well-characterized animal model for pelvic organ prolapse. We tested if vaginal smooth muscle cells from LOXL1 knockout mice have altered mechanics including stiffness and surface adhesion. Using atomic force microscopy, we performed nanoindentations on both isolated and confluent cells to evaluate the effect of LOXL1 knockout on in vitro cultures of vSMCs cells from nulliparous mice. The results show that LOXL1 knockout vSMCs have increased stiffness in pre-confluent but decreased stiffness in confluent cultures (p* < 0.05) and significant decreased surface adhesion in pre-confluent cultures (p* < 0.05). This study provides evidence that the weakening of vaginal connective tissue in the absense of LOXL1 changes the mechanical properties of the vSMCs. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Pelvic organ prolapse is a common condition affecting millions of women worldwide, which significantly impacts their quality of life. Alterations in vaginal and pelvic floor mechanical properties can change their ability to support the pelvic organs. This study provides evidence of altered stiffness of vaginal smooth muscle cells from mice resembling pelvic organ prolapse. The results from this study set a foundation to develop pathophysiology-driven therapies focused on the interplay between smooth muscle mechanics and extracellular matrix remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P S Ferreira
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Porto, Portugal; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute and Glickman Urological Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH, USA.
| | - M Kuang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute and Glickman Urological Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH, USA
| | - M P L Parente
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Porto, Portugal
| | - R M Natal Jorge
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Porto, Portugal
| | - R Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - S J Eppell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - M Damaser
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute and Glickman Urological Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH, USA; Advanced Platform Technology Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veteran's Administration Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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88
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Wierzbicki M, Hotowy A, Kutwin M, Jaworski S, Bałaban J, Sosnowska M, Wójcik B, Wędzińska A, Chwalibog A, Sawosz E. Graphene Oxide Scaffold Stimulates Differentiation and Proangiogenic Activities of Myogenic Progenitor Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21114173. [PMID: 32545308 PMCID: PMC7311992 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The physiological process of muscle regeneration is quite limited due to low satellite cell quantity and also the inability to regenerate and reconstruct niche tissue. The purpose of the study was to examine whether a graphene oxide scaffold is able to stimulate myogenic progenitor cell proliferation and the endocrine functions of differentiating cells, and therefore, their active participation in the construction of muscle tissue. Studies were carried out using mesenchymal cells taken from 6-day-old chicken embryos and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were used to assess angiogenesis. The graphene scaffold was readily colonized by myogenic progenitor cells and the cells dissected from heart, brain, eye, and blood vessels did not avoid the scaffold. The scaffold strongly induced myogenic progenitor cell signaling pathways and simultaneously activated proangiogenic signaling pathways via exocrine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion. The present study revealed that the graphene oxide (GO) scaffold initiates the processes of muscle cell differentiation due to mechanical interaction with myogenic progenitor cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Wierzbicki
- Department of Nanobiotechnology and Experimental Ecology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (A.H.); (M.K.); (S.J.); (J.B.); (M.S.); (B.W.); (A.W.); (E.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Anna Hotowy
- Department of Nanobiotechnology and Experimental Ecology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (A.H.); (M.K.); (S.J.); (J.B.); (M.S.); (B.W.); (A.W.); (E.S.)
| | - Marta Kutwin
- Department of Nanobiotechnology and Experimental Ecology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (A.H.); (M.K.); (S.J.); (J.B.); (M.S.); (B.W.); (A.W.); (E.S.)
| | - Sławomir Jaworski
- Department of Nanobiotechnology and Experimental Ecology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (A.H.); (M.K.); (S.J.); (J.B.); (M.S.); (B.W.); (A.W.); (E.S.)
| | - Jaśmina Bałaban
- Department of Nanobiotechnology and Experimental Ecology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (A.H.); (M.K.); (S.J.); (J.B.); (M.S.); (B.W.); (A.W.); (E.S.)
| | - Malwina Sosnowska
- Department of Nanobiotechnology and Experimental Ecology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (A.H.); (M.K.); (S.J.); (J.B.); (M.S.); (B.W.); (A.W.); (E.S.)
| | - Barbara Wójcik
- Department of Nanobiotechnology and Experimental Ecology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (A.H.); (M.K.); (S.J.); (J.B.); (M.S.); (B.W.); (A.W.); (E.S.)
| | - Aleksandra Wędzińska
- Department of Nanobiotechnology and Experimental Ecology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (A.H.); (M.K.); (S.J.); (J.B.); (M.S.); (B.W.); (A.W.); (E.S.)
| | - André Chwalibog
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Groennegaardsvej 3, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark;
| | - Ewa Sawosz
- Department of Nanobiotechnology and Experimental Ecology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (A.H.); (M.K.); (S.J.); (J.B.); (M.S.); (B.W.); (A.W.); (E.S.)
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89
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Shibata T, Furukawa H, Ito Y, Nagahama M, Hayashi T, Ishii-Teshima M, Nagai M. Photocatalytic Nanofabrication and Intracellular Raman Imaging of Living Cells with Functionalized AFM Probes. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:E495. [PMID: 32414191 PMCID: PMC7281467 DOI: 10.3390/mi11050495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is an effective platform for in vitro manipulation and analysis of living cells in medical and biological sciences. To introduce additional new features and functionalities into a conventional AFM system, we investigated the photocatalytic nanofabrication and intracellular Raman imaging of living cells by employing functionalized AFM probes. Herein, we investigated the effect of indentation speed on the cell membrane perforation of living HeLa cells based on highly localized photochemical oxidation with a catalytic titanium dioxide (TiO2)-functionalized AFM probe. On the basis of force-distance curves obtained during the indentation process, the probability of cell membrane perforation, penetration force, and cell viability was determined quantitatively. Moreover, we explored the possibility of intracellular tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) imaging of molecular dynamics in living cells via an AFM probe functionalized with silver nanoparticles in a homemade Raman system integrated with an inverted microscope. We successfully demonstrated that the intracellular TERS imaging has the potential to visualize distinctly different features in Raman spectra between the nucleus and the cytoplasm of a single living cell and to analyze the dynamic behavior of biomolecules inside a living cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Shibata
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi 441-8580, Japan; (H.F.); (Y.I.); (M.N.); (M.I.-T.); (M.N.)
| | - Hiromi Furukawa
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi 441-8580, Japan; (H.F.); (Y.I.); (M.N.); (M.I.-T.); (M.N.)
| | - Yasuharu Ito
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi 441-8580, Japan; (H.F.); (Y.I.); (M.N.); (M.I.-T.); (M.N.)
| | - Masahiro Nagahama
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi 441-8580, Japan; (H.F.); (Y.I.); (M.N.); (M.I.-T.); (M.N.)
| | - Terutake Hayashi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan;
| | - Miho Ishii-Teshima
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi 441-8580, Japan; (H.F.); (Y.I.); (M.N.); (M.I.-T.); (M.N.)
| | - Moeto Nagai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi 441-8580, Japan; (H.F.); (Y.I.); (M.N.); (M.I.-T.); (M.N.)
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90
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Makarova N, Kalaparthi V, Wang A, Williams C, Dokukin ME, Kaufman CK, Zon L, Sokolov I. Difference in biophysical properties of cancer-initiating cells in melanoma mutated zebrafish. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2020; 107:103746. [PMID: 32364948 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.103746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Despite sharing oncogenetic mutations, only a small number of cells within a given tissue will undergo malignant transformation. Biochemical and physical factors responsible for this cancer-initiation process are not well understood. Here we study biophysical differences of pre-melanoma and melanoma cells in a BRAFV600E/P53 zebrafish model. The AFM indentation technique was used to study the cancer-initiating cells while the surrounding melanocytes were the control. We observed a statistically significant decrease in the modulus of elasticity (the effective Young's modulus) of cancer-initiating cells compared to the surrounding melanocytes. No significant differences in the pericellular coat surrounding cells were observed. These results contribute to a better understanding of the factors responsible for the initiation of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Makarova
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Vivek Kalaparthi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Andrew Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Chris Williams
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - M E Dokukin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA; Sarov Physics and Technology Institute, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Sarov, Russian Federation
| | - Charles K Kaufman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - I Sokolov
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA; Department of Physics, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
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91
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Panhwar MH, Czerwinski F, Dabbiru VAS, Komaragiri Y, Fregin B, Biedenweg D, Nestler P, Pires RH, Otto O. High-throughput cell and spheroid mechanics in virtual fluidic channels. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2190. [PMID: 32366850 PMCID: PMC7198589 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15813-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidics by soft lithography has proven to be of key importance for biophysics and life science research. While being based on replicating structures of a master mold using benchtop devices, design modifications are time consuming and require sophisticated cleanroom equipment. Here, we introduce virtual fluidic channels as a flexible and robust alternative to microfluidic devices made by soft lithography. Virtual channels are liquid-bound fluidic systems that can be created in glass cuvettes and tailored in three dimensions within seconds for rheological studies on a wide size range of biological samples. We demonstrate that the liquid-liquid interface imposes a hydrodynamic stress on confined samples, and the resulting strain can be used to calculate rheological parameters from simple linear models. In proof-of-principle experiments, we perform high-throughput rheology inside a flow cytometer cuvette and show the Young's modulus of isolated cells exceeds the one of the corresponding tissue by one order of magnitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muzaffar H Panhwar
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V., Standort Greifswald, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Fabian Czerwinski
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Venkata A S Dabbiru
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V., Standort Greifswald, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Yesaswini Komaragiri
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V., Standort Greifswald, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Bob Fregin
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V., Standort Greifswald, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Doreen Biedenweg
- Klinik für Innere Medizin B, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Peter Nestler
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ricardo H Pires
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V., Standort Greifswald, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Oliver Otto
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
- Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V., Standort Greifswald, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
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92
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Nguyen TL, Polanco ER, Patananan AN, Zangle TA, Teitell MA. Cell viscoelasticity is linked to fluctuations in cell biomass distributions. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7403. [PMID: 32366921 PMCID: PMC7198624 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64259-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The viscoelastic properties of mammalian cells can vary with biological state, such as during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) transition in cancer, and therefore may serve as a useful physical biomarker. To characterize stiffness, conventional techniques use cell contact or invasive probes and as a result are low throughput, labor intensive, and limited by probe placement. Here, we show that measurements of biomass fluctuations in cells using quantitative phase imaging (QPI) provides a probe-free, contact-free method for quantifying changes in cell viscoelasticity. In particular, QPI measurements reveal a characteristic underdamped response of changes in cell biomass distributions versus time. The effective stiffness and viscosity values extracted from these oscillations in cell biomass distributions correlate with effective cell stiffness and viscosity measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). This result is consistent for multiple cell lines with varying degrees of cytoskeleton disruption and during the EMT. Overall, our study demonstrates that QPI can reproducibly quantify cell viscoelasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thang L Nguyen
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Edward R Polanco
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Alexander N Patananan
- Deparment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Thomas A Zangle
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
| | - Michael A Teitell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Deparment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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93
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Kristi N, Gafur A, Kong L, Ma X, Ye Z, Wang G. Atomic Force Microscopy in Mechanoimmunology Analysis: A New Perspective for Cancer Immunotherapy. Biotechnol J 2020; 15:e1900559. [PMID: 32240578 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201900559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has remarkable success outcomes against hematological malignancies with high rates of complete remission. To date, many studies have been conducted to increase its effectiveness in other types of cancer. However, it still yields unsatisfying results in solid tumor therapy. This limitation is partly attributed to the lack of understanding of how immunotherapy works in cancer from other perspectives. The traditional studies focus on the biological and chemical perspectives to determine which molecular substrates are involved in the immune system that can eradicate cancer cells. In the last decades, accumulating evidence has shown that physical properties also play important roles in the immune system to combat cancer, which is studied in mechanoimmunology. Mechanoimmunology analysis requires special tools; and herein, atomic force microscopy (AFM) appears as a versatile tool to determine and quantify the mechanical properties of a sample in nanometer precisions. Owing to its multifunctional capabilities, AFM can be used to explore immune system function from the physical perspective. This review paper explains the mechanoimmunology of how immune systems work through AFM, which includes mechanosignaling, mechanosensing, and mechanotransduction, with the aim to deepen the understanding of the mechanistic role of immunotherapy for further development in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Kristi
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Alidha Gafur
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Lingwen Kong
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Central Hospital of Chongqing University, Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, Chongqing, 400014, P. R. China
| | - Xinshuang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Zhiyi Ye
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Guixue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing, 400030, China
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94
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Carapeto AP, Vitorino MV, Santos JD, Ramalho SS, Robalo T, Rodrigues MS, Farinha CM. Mechanical Properties of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Expressing Wt- and Mutant CFTR. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082916. [PMID: 32326361 PMCID: PMC7216210 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). A single recessive mutation, the deletion of phenylalanine 508 (F508del), causes severe CF and resides on 70% of mutant chromosomes. Disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton has been previously reported in relation to the CF phenotype. In this work, we aimed to understand this alteration by means of Atomic Force Microscopy and Force Feedback Microscopy investigation of mechanical properties of cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial (CFBE) cells stably transduced with either wild type (wt-) or F508del-CFTR. We show here that the expression of mutant CFTR causes a decrease in the cell’s apparent Young modulus as compared to the expression of the wt protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana P. Carapeto
- BioISI – Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.P.C.); (M.V.V.); (J.D.S.); (S.S.R.); (T.R.)
- Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel V. Vitorino
- BioISI – Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.P.C.); (M.V.V.); (J.D.S.); (S.S.R.); (T.R.)
- Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João D. Santos
- BioISI – Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.P.C.); (M.V.V.); (J.D.S.); (S.S.R.); (T.R.)
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sofia S. Ramalho
- BioISI – Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.P.C.); (M.V.V.); (J.D.S.); (S.S.R.); (T.R.)
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tiago Robalo
- BioISI – Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.P.C.); (M.V.V.); (J.D.S.); (S.S.R.); (T.R.)
- Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mário S. Rodrigues
- BioISI – Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.P.C.); (M.V.V.); (J.D.S.); (S.S.R.); (T.R.)
- Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence: (M.S.R.); (C.M.F.)
| | - Carlos M. Farinha
- BioISI – Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.P.C.); (M.V.V.); (J.D.S.); (S.S.R.); (T.R.)
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence: (M.S.R.); (C.M.F.)
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95
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Obenaus AM, Mollica MY, Sniadecki NJ. (De)form and Function: Measuring Cellular Forces with Deformable Materials and Deformable Structures. Adv Healthc Mater 2020; 9:e1901454. [PMID: 31951099 PMCID: PMC7274881 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201901454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The ability for biological cells to produce mechanical forces is important for the development, function, and homeostasis of tissue. The measurement of cellular forces is not a straightforward task because individual cells are microscopic in size and the forces they produce are at the nanonewton scale. Consequently, studies in cell mechanics rely on advanced biomaterials or flexible structures that permit one to infer these forces by the deformation they impart on the material or structure. Herein, the scientific progression on the use of deformable materials and deformable structures to measure cellular forces are reviewed. The findings and insights made possible with these approaches in the field of cell mechanics are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava M Obenaus
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Molly Y Mollica
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Nathan J Sniadecki
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
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96
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It takes more than two to tango: mechanosignaling of the endothelial surface. Pflugers Arch 2020; 472:419-433. [PMID: 32239285 PMCID: PMC7165135 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-020-02369-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The endothelial surface is a highly flexible signaling hub which is able to sense the hemodynamic forces of the streaming blood. The subsequent mechanosignaling is basically mediated by specific structures, like the endothelial glycocalyx building the top surface layer of endothelial cells as well as mechanosensitive ion channels within the endothelial plasma membrane. The mechanical properties of the endothelial cell surface are characterized by the dynamics of cytoskeletal proteins and play a key role in the process of signal transmission from the outside (lumen of the blood vessel) to the interior of the cell. Thus, the cell mechanics directly interact with the function of mechanosensitive structures and ion channels. To precisely maintain the vascular tone, a coordinated functional interdependency between endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells is necessary. This is given by the fact that mechanosensitive ion channels are expressed in both cell types and that signals are transmitted via autocrine/paracrine mechanisms from layer to layer. Thus, the outer layer of the endothelial cells can be seen as important functional mechanosensitive and reactive cellular compartment. This review aims to describe the known mechanosensitive structures of the vessel building a bridge between the important role of physiological mechanosignaling and the proper vascular function. Since mutations and dysfunction of mechanosensitive proteins are linked to vascular pathologies such as hypertension, they play a potent role in the field of channelopathies and mechanomedicine.
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97
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Lyu D, Zhang L, Zhang Y. Effects of cholesterol on bilayers with various degrees of unsaturation of their phospholipid tails under mechanical stress. RSC Adv 2020; 10:11088-11094. [PMID: 35495327 PMCID: PMC9050462 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra00624f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol is one of the essential components of the cell membrane. It has a significant influence on various mechanical properties of biomembranes, such as fluidity and elasticity, which have attracted much attention. It is also well known that the concentration of cholesterol affects the mechanical strength of cell membranes. In this paper, we aim to explore the influence of the degree of unsaturation of phospholipid tails on the concentration-effect of cholesterol. Three different phospholipids (DPPC, DIPC and DAPC) were selected as the respective main components of the bilayers and several concentrations of cholesterol were also added to the systems. Our coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations show that as the cholesterol concentration increases, the saturated phospholipid bilayer is first strengthened, by increasing the rupture tension from 68.9 to 110 mN m-1, and then weakened. The non-monotonic concentration-effect gradually decreases as the degree of unsaturation of the phospholipid tails increases, and in particular, the mechanical strength of the DAPC bilayer hardly changes. The results suggest that cholesterol does not influence a bilayer composed of highly unsaturated phospholipids. Furthermore, lateral density distributions reveal that the distribution of cholesterol in the bilayer is related to the carbon tail unsaturation of the phospholipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyu Lyu
- School of Physics, Sun Yat-Sen University No. 135 Xingang Xi Road Guangzhou 510275 China
| | - Lei Zhang
- School of Physics, Sun Yat-Sen University No. 135 Xingang Xi Road Guangzhou 510275 China
| | - Yong Zhang
- School of Physics, Sun Yat-Sen University No. 135 Xingang Xi Road Guangzhou 510275 China
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98
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Determination of viscohyperelastic properties of tubule epithelial cells by an approach combined with AFM nanoindentation and finite element analysis. Micron 2020; 129:102779. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2019.102779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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99
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Elbourne A, Cheeseman S, Atkin P, Truong NP, Syed N, Zavabeti A, Mohiuddin M, Esrafilzadeh D, Cozzolino D, McConville CF, Dickey MD, Crawford RJ, Kalantar-Zadeh K, Chapman J, Daeneke T, Truong VK. Antibacterial Liquid Metals: Biofilm Treatment via Magnetic Activation. ACS NANO 2020; 14:802-817. [PMID: 31922722 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b07861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance has made the treatment of biofilm-related infections challenging. As such, the quest for next-generation antimicrobial technologies must focus on targeted therapies to which pathogenic bacteria cannot develop resistance. Stimuli-responsive therapies represent an alternative technological focus due to their capability of delivering targeted treatment. This study provides a proof-of-concept investigation into the use of magneto-responsive gallium-based liquid metal (LM) droplets as antibacterial materials, which can physically damage, disintegrate, and kill pathogens within a mature biofilm. Once exposed to a low-intensity rotating magnetic field, the LM droplets become physically actuated and transform their shape, developing sharp edges. When placed in contact with a bacterial biofilm, the movement of the particles resulting from the magnetic field, coupled with the presence of nanosharp edges, physically ruptures the bacterial cells and the dense biofilm matrix is broken down. The antibacterial efficacy of the magnetically activated LM particles was assessed against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial biofilms. After 90 min over 99% of both bacterial species became nonviable, and the destruction of the biofilms was observed. These results will impact the design of next-generation, LM-based biofilm treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Elbourne
- School of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Health , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
- Nanobiotechnology Laboratory , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Samuel Cheeseman
- School of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Health , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
- Nanobiotechnology Laboratory , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Paul Atkin
- School of Engineering, College of Science, Engineering and Health , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
- CSIRO Australia , Private Bag 33, Clayton South MDC , Clayton , Victoria 3169 , Australia
| | - Nghia P Truong
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Monash University , 399 Royal Parade , Parkville , Victoria 3152 , Australia
| | - Nitu Syed
- School of Engineering, College of Science, Engineering and Health , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Ali Zavabeti
- School of Engineering, College of Science, Engineering and Health , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Md Mohiuddin
- School of Engineering, College of Science, Engineering and Health , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Dorna Esrafilzadeh
- School of Engineering, College of Science, Engineering and Health , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering , University of New South Wales (UNSW) , Kensington , NSW 2052 , Australia
| | - Daniel Cozzolino
- School of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Health , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Chris F McConville
- School of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Health , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Michael D Dickey
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , North Carolina State University , Raleigh , North Carolina 27695 , United States
| | - Russell J Crawford
- School of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Health , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
- Nanobiotechnology Laboratory , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh
- School of Chemical Engineering , University of New South Wales (UNSW) , Kensington , NSW 2052 , Australia
| | - James Chapman
- School of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Health , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
- Nanobiotechnology Laboratory , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Torben Daeneke
- School of Engineering, College of Science, Engineering and Health , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
| | - Vi Khanh Truong
- School of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Health , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
- Nanobiotechnology Laboratory , RMIT University , Melbourne , Victoria 3001 , Australia
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Kramer RCLN, Verlinden EJ, Angeloni L, van den Heuvel A, Fratila-Apachitei LE, van der Maarel SM, Ghatkesar MK. Multiscale 3D-printing of microfluidic AFM cantilevers. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:311-319. [PMID: 31808485 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00668k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilever probes have all the functionalities of a standard AFM cantilever along with fluid pipetting. They have a channel inside the cantilever and an aperture at the tip. Such probes are useful for precise fluid manipulation at a desired location, for example near or inside cells. They are typically made by complex microfabrication process steps, resulting in expensive probes. Here, we used two different 3D additive manufacturing techniques, stereolithography and two-photon polymerization, to directly print ready-to-use microfluidic AFM cantilever probes. This approach has considerably reduced the fabrication time and increased the design freedom. One of the probes, 564 μm long, 30 μm wide, 30 μm high, with a 25 μm diameter channel and 2.5 μm wall thickness had a spring constant of 3.7 N m-1 and the polymer fabrication material had an elastic modulus of 4.2 GPa. Using these 3D printed probes, AFM imaging of a surface, puncturing of the cell membrane, and aspiration at the single cell level have been demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert C L N Kramer
- Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering (PME), Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering (3mE), Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628CD Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Eleonoor J Verlinden
- Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering (PME), Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering (3mE), Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628CD Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Livia Angeloni
- Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering (PME), Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering (3mE), Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628CD Delft, The Netherlands. and Department of Biomechanical Engineering (BME), Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering (3mE), Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
| | - Anita van den Heuvel
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lidy E Fratila-Apachitei
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering (BME), Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering (3mE), Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
| | | | - Murali K Ghatkesar
- Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering (PME), Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime, and Materials Engineering (3mE), Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628CD Delft, The Netherlands.
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