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Holuigue H, Nacci L, Di Chiaro P, Chighizola M, Locatelli I, Schulte C, Alfano M, Diaferia GR, Podestà A. Native extracellular matrix probes to target patient- and tissue-specific cell-microenvironment interactions by force spectroscopy. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:15382-15395. [PMID: 37700706 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr01568h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is successfully used for the quantitative investigation of the cellular mechanosensing of the microenvironment. To this purpose, several force spectroscopy approaches aim at measuring the adhesive forces between two living cells and also between a cell and an appropriate reproduction of the extracellular matrix (ECM), typically exploiting tips suitably functionalised with single components (e.g. collagen, fibronectin) of the ECM. However, these probes only poorly reproduce the complexity of the native cellular microenvironment and consequently of the biological interactions. We developed a novel approach to produce AFM probes that faithfully retain the structural and biochemical complexity of the ECM; this was achieved by attaching to an AFM cantilever a micrometric slice of native decellularised ECM, which was cut by laser microdissection. We demonstrate that these probes preserve the morphological, mechanical, and chemical heterogeneity of the ECM. Native ECM probes can be used in force spectroscopy experiments aimed at targeting cell-microenvironment interactions. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of dissecting mechanotransductive cell-ECM interactions in the 10 pN range. As proof-of-principle, we tested a rat bladder ECM probe against the AY-27 rat bladder cancer cell line. On the one hand, we obtained reproducible results using different probes derived from the same ECM regions; on the other hand, we detected differences in the adhesion patterns of distinct bladder ECM regions (submucosa, detrusor, and adventitia), in line with the disparities in composition and biophysical properties of these ECM regions. Our results demonstrate that native ECM probes, produced from patient-specific regions of organs and tissues, can be used to investigate cell-microenvironment interactions and early mechanotransductive processes by force spectroscopy. This opens new possibilities in the field of personalised medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Holuigue
- CIMAINA and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
| | - L Nacci
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
| | - P Di Chiaro
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
| | - M Chighizola
- CIMAINA and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
| | - I Locatelli
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
| | - C Schulte
- CIMAINA and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L. Sacco", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - M Alfano
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
| | - G R Diaferia
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
| | - A Podestà
- CIMAINA and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
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2
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Lorenc E, Varinelli L, Chighizola M, Brich S, Pisati F, Guaglio M, Baratti D, Deraco M, Gariboldi M, Podestà A. Correlation between biological and mechanical properties of extracellular matrix from colorectal peritoneal metastases in human tissues. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12175. [PMID: 37500685 PMCID: PMC10374531 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38763-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Peritoneal metastases (PM) are common routes of dissemination for colorectal cancer (CRC) and remain a lethal disease with a poor prognosis. The properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are important in cancer development; studying their changes is crucial to understand CRC-PM development. We studied the elastic properties of ECMs derived from human samples of normal and neoplastic PM by atomic force microscopy (AFM); results were correlated with patient clinical data and expression of ECM components related to metastatic spread. We show that PM progression is accompanied by stiffening of the ECM, increased cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) activity and increased deposition and crosslinking in neoplastic matrices; on the other hand, softer regions are also found in neoplastic ECMs on the same scales. Our results support the hypothesis that local changes in the normal ECM can create the ground for growth and spread from the tumour of invading metastatic cells. We have found correlations between the mechanical properties (relative stiffening between normal and neoplastic ECM) of the ECM and patients' clinical data, like age, sex, presence of protein activating mutations in BRAF and KRAS genes and tumour grade. Our findings suggest that the mechanical phenotyping of PM-ECM has the potential to predict tumour development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Lorenc
- Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli" and CIMaINa, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Celoria 16, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Varinelli
- Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Chighizola
- Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli" and CIMaINa, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Celoria 16, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Brich
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Pisati
- Histopathology Unit, Cogentech Ltd. Benefit Corporation with a Sole Shareholder, via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Marcello Guaglio
- Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Unit, Colon and Rectal Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Dario Baratti
- Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Unit, Colon and Rectal Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Marcello Deraco
- Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Unit, Colon and Rectal Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Gariboldi
- Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, via G. Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Podestà
- Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli" and CIMaINa, Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Celoria 16, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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3
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Hajj T, Marbach S, Pfeiffer P, Montgomery P, Lecler S, Flury M. High-quality manipulable fiber-microsphere for super-resolution microscopy. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:2222-2225. [PMID: 37126239 DOI: 10.1364/ol.484399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Despite the gain in resolution brought by microsphere (MS)-assisted microscopy, it has always faced several limitations, such as a limited field of view, surface defects, low contrast, and lack of manipulability. This Letter presents a new type of MS created at the tip of an optical fiber, which we call a fiber microsphere (fMS). The fMS is made from a single-mode or coreless fiber, molten and stretched, ensuring high homogeneity and a sphere diameter smaller than the fiber itself. In addition, the connection between the fMS and the fiber makes scanning the sample a simple task, offering a solution to the difficulties of handling. The fabrication procedure of the fMS and the optical system used in the study are detailed. Our measurements show a clear superiority of the fMS over the soda-lime MS in resolving power and imaging performance.
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4
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Martinez-Vidal L, Chighizola M, Berardi M, Alchera E, Locatelli I, Pederzoli F, Venegoni C, Lucianò R, Milani P, Bielawski K, Salonia A, Podestà A, Alfano M. Micro-mechanical fingerprints of the rat bladder change in actinic cystitis and tumor presence. Commun Biol 2023; 6:217. [PMID: 36823431 PMCID: PMC9950451 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04572-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue mechanics determines tissue homeostasis, disease development and progression. Bladder strongly relies on its mechanical properties to perform its physiological function, but these are poorly unveiled under normal and pathological conditions. Here we characterize the mechanical fingerprints at the micro-scale level of the three tissue layers which compose the healthy bladder wall, and identify modifications associated with the onset and progression of pathological conditions (i.e., actinic cystitis and bladder cancer). We use two indentation-based instruments (an Atomic Force Microscope and a nanoindenter) and compare the micromechanical maps with a comprehensive histological analysis. We find that the healthy bladder wall is a mechanically inhomogeneous tissue, with a gradient of increasing stiffness from the urothelium to the lamina propria, which gradually decreases when reaching the muscle outer layer. Stiffening in fibrotic tissues correlate with increased deposition of dense extracellular matrix in the lamina propria. An increase in tissue compliance is observed before the onset and invasion of the tumor. By providing high resolution micromechanical investigation of each tissue layer of the bladder, we depict the intrinsic mechanical heterogeneity of the layers of a healthy bladder as compared with the mechanical properties alterations associated with either actinic cystitis or bladder tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Martinez-Vidal
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina, 60, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - M Chighizola
- C.I.Ma.I.Na and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - M Berardi
- Optics11, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- LaserLab, Department of Physics and Astronomy, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E Alchera
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - I Locatelli
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - F Pederzoli
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina, 60, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - C Venegoni
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - R Lucianò
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - P Milani
- C.I.Ma.I.Na and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | | | - A Salonia
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina, 60, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - A Podestà
- C.I.Ma.I.Na and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20133, Italy.
| | - M Alfano
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, 20132, Italy.
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5
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Surface characterization of an ultra-soft contact lens material using an atomic force microscopy nanoindentation method. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20013. [PMID: 36411325 PMCID: PMC9678857 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24701-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
As new ultra-soft materials are being developed for medical devices and biomedical applications, the comprehensive characterization of their physical and mechanical properties is both critical and challenging. To characterize the very low surface modulus of the novel biomimetic lehfilcon A silicone hydrogel contact lens coated with a layer of a branched polymer brush structure, an improved atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation method has been applied. This technique allows for precise contact-point determination without the effects of viscous squeeze-out upon approaching the branched polymer. Additionally, it allows individual brush elements to be mechanically characterized in the absence of poroelastic effects. This was accomplished by selecting an AFM probe with a design (tip size, geometry, and spring constant) that was especially suited to measuring the properties of soft materials and biological samples. The enhanced sensitivity and accuracy of this method allows for the precise measurement of the very soft lehfilcon A material, which has an extremely low elastic modulus in the surface region (as low as 2 kPa) and extremely high elasticity (nearly 100%) in an aqueous environment. The surface-characterization results not only reveal the ultra-soft nature of the lehfilcon A lens surface but also demonstrate that the elastic modulus exhibits a 30 kPa/200 nm gradient with depth due to the disparity between the modulus of the branched polymer brushes and the SiHy substrate. This surface-characterization methodology may be applied to other ultra-soft materials and medical devices.
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Zieliński T, Pabijan J, Zapotoczny B, Zemła J, Wesołowska J, Pera J, Lekka M. Changes in nanomechanical properties of single neuroblastoma cells as a model for oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). Sci Rep 2022; 12:16276. [PMID: 36175469 PMCID: PMC9523022 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20623-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although complex, the biological processes underlying ischemic stroke are better known than those related to biomechanical alterations of single cells. Mechanisms of biomechanical changes and their relations to the molecular processes are crucial for understanding the function and dysfunction of the brain. In our study, we applied atomic force microscopy (AFM) to quantify the alterations in biomechanical properties in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) and reoxygenation (RO). Obtained results reveal several characteristics. Cell viability remained at the same level, regardless of the OGD and RO conditions, but, in parallel, the metabolic activity of cells decreased with OGD duration. 24 h RO did not recover the metabolic activity fully. Cells subjected to OGD appeared softer than control cells. Cell softening was strongly present in cells after 1 h of OGD and with longer OGD duration, and in RO conditions, cells recovered their mechanical properties. Changes in the nanomechanical properties of cells were attributed to the remodelling of actin filaments, which was related to cofilin-based regulation and impaired metabolic activity of cells. The presented study shows the importance of nanomechanics in research on ischemic-related pathological processes such as stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Zieliński
- Department of Biophysical Microstructures, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342, Kraków, Poland
| | - Joanna Pabijan
- Department of Biophysical Microstructures, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342, Kraków, Poland
| | - Bartłomiej Zapotoczny
- Department of Biophysical Microstructures, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342, Kraków, Poland
| | - Joanna Zemła
- Department of Biophysical Microstructures, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342, Kraków, Poland
| | - Julita Wesołowska
- Laboratory of in Vivo and in Vitro Imaging, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna 12, 31343, Kraków, Poland
| | - Joanna Pera
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Botaniczna 3, 31503, Kraków, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Lekka
- Department of Biophysical Microstructures, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342, Kraków, Poland.
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7
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Chighizola M, Dini T, Marcotti S, D'Urso M, Piazzoni C, Borghi F, Previdi A, Ceriani L, Folliero C, Stramer B, Lenardi C, Milani P, Podestà A, Schulte C. The glycocalyx affects the mechanotransductive perception of the topographical microenvironment. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:418. [PMID: 36123687 PMCID: PMC9484177 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01585-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell/microenvironment interface is the starting point of integrin-mediated mechanotransduction, but many details of mechanotransductive signal integration remain elusive due to the complexity of the involved (extra)cellular structures, such as the glycocalyx. We used nano-bio-interfaces reproducing the complex nanotopographical features of the extracellular matrix to analyse the glycocalyx impact on PC12 cell mechanosensing at the nanoscale (e.g., by force spectroscopy with functionalised probes). Our data demonstrates that the glycocalyx configuration affects spatio-temporal nanotopography-sensitive mechanotransductive events at the cell/microenvironment interface. Opposing effects of major glycocalyx removal were observed, when comparing flat and specific nanotopographical conditions. The excessive retrograde actin flow speed and force loading are strongly reduced on certain nanotopographies upon strong reduction of the native glycocalyx, while on the flat substrate we observe the opposite trend. Our results highlight the importance of the glycocalyx configuration in a molecular clutch force loading-dependent cellular mechanism for mechanosensing of microenvironmental nanotopographical features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Chighizola
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Tania Dini
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM), Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Marcotti
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mirko D'Urso
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Claudio Piazzoni
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Borghi
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Anita Previdi
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Ceriani
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Folliero
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM), Milan, Italy
| | - Brian Stramer
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Cristina Lenardi
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Milani
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Podestà
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Carsten Schulte
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics "Aldo Pontremoli", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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8
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Kim E, Lee H. Mechanical characterization of soft microparticles prepared by droplet microfluidics. JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pol.20220110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eunseo Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) Pohang South Korea
| | - Hyomin Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) Pohang South Korea
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9
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Holuigue H, Lorenc E, Chighizola M, Schulte C, Varinelli L, Deraco M, Guaglio M, Gariboldi M, Podestà A. Force Sensing on Cells and Tissues by Atomic Force Microscopy. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22062197. [PMID: 35336366 PMCID: PMC8955449 DOI: 10.3390/s22062197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Biosensors are aimed at detecting tiny physical and chemical stimuli in biological systems. Physical forces are ubiquitous, being implied in all cellular processes, including cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation. Given the strong interplay between cells and their microenvironment, the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the structural and mechanical properties of the ECM play an important role in the transmission of external stimuli to single cells within the tissue. Vice versa, cells themselves also use self-generated forces to probe the biophysical properties of the ECM. ECM mechanics influence cell fate, regulate tissue development, and show peculiar features in health and disease conditions of living organisms. Force sensing in biological systems is therefore crucial to dissecting and understanding complex biological processes, such as mechanotransduction. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), which can both sense and apply forces at the nanoscale, with sub-nanonewton sensitivity, represents an enabling technology and a crucial experimental tool in biophysics and mechanobiology. In this work, we report on the application of AFM to the study of biomechanical fingerprints of different components of biological systems, such as the ECM, the whole cell, and cellular components, such as the nucleus, lamellipodia and the glycocalyx. We show that physical observables such as the (spatially resolved) Young’s Modulus (YM) of elasticity of ECMs or cells, and the effective thickness and stiffness of the glycocalyx, can be quantitatively characterized by AFM. Their modification can be correlated to changes in the microenvironment, physio-pathological conditions, or gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hatice Holuigue
- CIMAINA and Dipartimento di Fisica “Aldo Pontremoli”, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milan, Italy; (H.H.); (E.L.); (M.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Ewelina Lorenc
- CIMAINA and Dipartimento di Fisica “Aldo Pontremoli”, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milan, Italy; (H.H.); (E.L.); (M.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Matteo Chighizola
- CIMAINA and Dipartimento di Fisica “Aldo Pontremoli”, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milan, Italy; (H.H.); (E.L.); (M.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Carsten Schulte
- CIMAINA and Dipartimento di Fisica “Aldo Pontremoli”, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milan, Italy; (H.H.); (E.L.); (M.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Luca Varinelli
- Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy; (L.V.); (M.G.)
| | - Marcello Deraco
- Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Unit, Colorectal Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.D.); (M.G.)
| | - Marcello Guaglio
- Peritoneal Surface Malignancies Unit, Colorectal Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.D.); (M.G.)
| | - Manuela Gariboldi
- Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy; (L.V.); (M.G.)
| | - Alessandro Podestà
- CIMAINA and Dipartimento di Fisica “Aldo Pontremoli”, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milan, Italy; (H.H.); (E.L.); (M.C.); (C.S.)
- Correspondence:
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10
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Galluzzi M, Marfori L, Asperti S, De Vita A, Giannangeli M, Caselli A, Milani P, Podestà A. Interaction of imidazolium-based ionic liquids with supported phospholipid bilayers as model biomembranes. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:27328-27342. [DOI: 10.1039/d2cp02866b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The cytotoxicity of ionic liquids (ILs) is receiving increasing attention due to their potential biological and environmental impact. We have used atomic force microscopy to investigate the interaction of ILs with supported phospholipid bilayers, as models of biomembranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Galluzzi
- Materials Interfaces Center, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
- C.I.Ma.I.Na and Dipartimento di Fisica “Aldo Pontremoli”, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133-Milano, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Marfori
- C.I.Ma.I.Na and Dipartimento di Fisica “Aldo Pontremoli”, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133-Milano, Italy
| | - Stefania Asperti
- C.I.Ma.I.Na and Dipartimento di Fisica “Aldo Pontremoli”, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133-Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro De Vita
- C.I.Ma.I.Na and Dipartimento di Fisica “Aldo Pontremoli”, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133-Milano, Italy
| | - Matteo Giannangeli
- Dipartimento di Chimica and CNR-SCITEC, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Golgi 19, 20133-Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Caselli
- Dipartimento di Chimica and CNR-SCITEC, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Golgi 19, 20133-Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Milani
- C.I.Ma.I.Na and Dipartimento di Fisica “Aldo Pontremoli”, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133-Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Podestà
- C.I.Ma.I.Na and Dipartimento di Fisica “Aldo Pontremoli”, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133-Milano, Italy
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11
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Xu K, Liu Y. Studies of probe tip materials by atomic force microscopy: a review. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 13:1256-1267. [PMID: 36415853 PMCID: PMC9644057 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.13.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
As a tool that can test insulators' surface morphology and properties, the performance index of atomic force microscope (AFM) probes is the most critical factor in determining the resolution of microscopy, and the performance of probes varies in various modes and application requirements. This paper reviews the latest research results in metal, carbon nanotube, and colloidal probes and reviews their related methods and techniques, analyses the advantages and disadvantages of the improved probes compared with ordinary probes by comparing the differences in spatial resolution, sensitivity, imaging, and other performance aspects, and finally provides an outlook on the future development of AFM probes. This paper promotes the development of AFM probes in the direction of new probes and further promotes the broader and deeper application of scanning probe microscope (SPM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Xu
- School of Electrical & Control Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China
| | - Yuzhe Liu
- School of Electrical & Control Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China
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12
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Norman MDA, Ferreira SA, Jowett GM, Bozec L, Gentleman E. Measuring the elastic modulus of soft culture surfaces and three-dimensional hydrogels using atomic force microscopy. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:2418-2449. [PMID: 33854255 PMCID: PMC7615740 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00495-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Growing interest in exploring mechanically mediated biological phenomena has resulted in cell culture substrates and 3D matrices with variable stiffnesses becoming standard tools in biology labs. However, correlating stiffness with biological outcomes and comparing results between research groups is hampered by variability in the methods used to determine Young's (elastic) modulus, E, and by the inaccessibility of relevant mechanical engineering protocols to most biology labs. Here, we describe a protocol for measuring E of soft 2D surfaces and 3D hydrogels using atomic force microscopy (AFM) force spectroscopy. We provide instructions for preparing hydrogels with and without encapsulated live cells, and provide a method for mounting samples within the AFM. We also provide details on how to calibrate the instrument, and give step-by-step instructions for collecting force-displacement curves in both manual and automatic modes (stiffness mapping). We then provide details on how to apply either the Hertz or the Oliver-Pharr model to calculate E, and give additional instructions to aid the user in plotting data distributions and carrying out statistical analyses. We also provide instructions for inferring differential matrix remodeling activity in hydrogels containing encapsulated single cells or organoids. Our protocol is suitable for probing a range of synthetic and naturally derived polymeric hydrogels such as polyethylene glycol, polyacrylamide, hyaluronic acid, collagen, or Matrigel. Although sample preparation timings will vary, a user with introductory training to AFM will be able to use this protocol to characterize the mechanical properties of two to six soft surfaces or 3D hydrogels in a single day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D. A. Norman
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Silvia A. Ferreira
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Geraldine M. Jowett
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Laurent Bozec
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1G6, Canada
| | - Eileen Gentleman
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, London WC1H 0AH, UK
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Wang W, Zhang K, Zhang W, Hou Y, Chen Y. Multifunctional cantilevers for simultaneous enhancement of contact resonance and harmonic atomic force microscopy. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 32:295505. [PMID: 33784663 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/abf37a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
To enhance contact resonance atomic force microscopy (CR-AFM) and harmonic AFM imaging simultaneously, we design a multifunctional cantilever. Precise tailoring of the cantilever's dynamic properties is realized by either mass-removing or mass-adding. As prototypes, focused ion beam drilling or depositing is used to fabricate the optimized structures. CR-AFM subsurface imaging on circular cavities covered by a piece of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite validates the improved CR frequency to contact stiffness sensitivity. The detectable subsurface depth and cavity radius increase accordingly by using the multifunctional cantilever. At the same time, the free resonance frequency of the second mode is tuned to an integer multiple of the fundamental one. Harmonic AFM imaging on polystyrene and low-density polystyrene mixture shows the improved harmonic amplitude contrast and signal strength on the two material phases. The multifunctional cantilever can be extended to enhance other similar AFM operation modes and it has potential applications in relevant fields such as mechanical characterization and subsurface imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Wang
- Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Kaidi Zhang
- Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhao Zhang
- Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaoping Hou
- Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuhang Chen
- Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, People's Republic of China
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Rodriguez-Ramos J, Rico F. Determination of calibration parameters of cantilevers of arbitrary shape by finite element analysis. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2021; 92:045001. [PMID: 34243426 DOI: 10.1063/5.0036263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The use of atomic force microscopy in nanomechanical measurements requires accurate calibration of the cantilever's spring constant (kc) and the optical lever sensitivity (OLS). The thermal method, based on the cantilever's thermal fluctuations in fluids, allows estimation of kc in a fast, non-invasive mode. However, differences in the cantilever geometry and mounting angle require the knowledge of three correction factors to get a good estimation of kc: the contribution of the oscillation mode to the total amplitude, the shape difference between the free and end-loaded configurations, and the tilt of the cantilever with respect to the measured surface. While the correction factors for traditional rectangular and V-shaped cantilever geometries have been reported, they must be determined for cantilevers with non-traditional geometries and large tips. Here, we develop a method based on finite element analysis to estimate the correction factors of cantilevers with arbitrary geometry and tip dimensions. The method relies on the numerical computation of the effective cantilever mass. The use of the correction factor for rectangular geometries in our model cantilever (PFQNM-LC) will lead to values underestimated by 16%. In contrast, experiments using pre-calibrated cantilevers revealed a maximum uncertainty below 5% in the estimation of the OLS, verifying our approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Felix Rico
- Aix-Marseille University, INSERM, CNRS, LAI, 13009 Marseille, France
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