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López-Serrano C, Côté-Paradis Y, Habenstein B, Loquet A, Le Coz C, Ruel J, Laroche G, Durrieu MC. Integrating Mechanics and Bioactivity: A Detailed Assessment of Elasticity and Viscoelasticity at Different Scales in 2D Biofunctionalized PEGDA Hydrogels for Targeted Bone Regeneration. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:39165-39180. [PMID: 39041490 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c10755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Methods for promoting and controlling the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in vitro before in vivo transplantation are crucial for the advancement of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this study, we developed poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties, including elasticity and viscoelasticity, coupled with bioactivity achieved through the immobilization of a mixture of RGD and a mimetic peptide of the BMP-2 protein. Despite the key relevance of hydrogel mechanical properties for cell culture, a standard for its characterization has not been proposed, and comparisons between studies are challenging due to the different techniques employed. Here, a comprehensive approach was employed to characterize the elasticity and viscoelasticity of these hydrogels, integrating compression testing, rheology, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) microindentation. Distinct mechanical behaviors were observed across different PEGDA compositions, and some consistent trends across multiple techniques were identified. Using a photoactivated cross-linker, we controlled the functionalization density independently of the mechanical properties. X-ray photoelectrin spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy were employed to evaluate the functionalization density of the materials before the culturing of hMSCs on them. The cells cultured on all functionalized hydrogels expressed an early osteoblast marker (Runx2) after 2 weeks, even in the absence of a differentiation-inducing medium compared to our controls. Additionally, after only 1 week of culture with osteogenic differentiation medium, cells showed accelerated differentiation, with clear morphological differences observed among cells in the different conditions. Notably, cells on stiff but stress-relaxing hydrogels exhibited an overexpression of the osteocyte marker E11. This suggests that the combination of the functionalization procedure with the mechanical properties of the hydrogel provides a potent approach to promoting the osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina López-Serrano
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, Pessac 33600, France
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie de Surface, Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés, Département de Génie des Mines, de la Métallurgie et des Matériaux, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1 V 0A6, Canada
- Axe médecine régénératrice, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Hôpital St-François d'Assise, Québec, QC G1L 3L5, Canada
| | - Yeva Côté-Paradis
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie de Surface, Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés, Département de Génie des Mines, de la Métallurgie et des Matériaux, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1 V 0A6, Canada
- Axe médecine régénératrice, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Hôpital St-François d'Assise, Québec, QC G1L 3L5, Canada
| | - Birgit Habenstein
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, IECB, US1, UAR 3033, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Antoine Loquet
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, IECB, US1, UAR 3033, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Cédric Le Coz
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Jean Ruel
- Département de Génie Mécanique, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Gaétan Laroche
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie de Surface, Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés, Département de Génie des Mines, de la Métallurgie et des Matériaux, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1 V 0A6, Canada
- Axe médecine régénératrice, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Hôpital St-François d'Assise, Québec, QC G1L 3L5, Canada
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Dong Y, Wang C, Ding X, Ma X, Huang R, Li M, Yang Q. The characterization of cell traction force on nonflat surfaces with different curvature by elastic hydrogel microspheres. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024. [PMID: 38978386 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
It is of great importance to study the detachment/attachment behaviors of cells (cancer cell, immune cell, and epithelial cell), as they are closely related with tumor metastasis, immunoreaction, and tissue development at variety scales. To characterize the detachment/attachment during the interaction between cells and substrate, some researchers proposed using cell traction force (CTF) as the indicator. To date, various strategies have been developed to measure the CTF. However, these methods only realize the measurements of cell passive forces on flat cases. To quantify the active CTF on nonflat surfaces, which can better mimic the in vivo case, we employed elastic hydrogel microspheres as a force sensor. The microspheres were fabricated by microfluidic chips with controllable size and mechanical properties to mimic substrate. Cells were cultured on microsphere and the CTF led to the deformation of microsphere. By detecting the morphology information, the CTF exerted by attached cells can be calculated by the in-house numerical code. Using these microspheres, the CTF of various cells (including tumor cell, immunological cell, and epithelium cell) were successfully obtained on nonflat surfaces with different curvature radii. The proposed method provides a versatile platform to measure the CTF with high precision and to understand the detachment/attachment behaviors during physiology processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Dong
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Cong Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Xin Ding
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Xingquan Ma
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
- School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Rong Huang
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Moxiao Li
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
- Nanjing Center for Multifunctional Lightweight Materials and Structures (MLMS), Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Qingzhen Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China
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3
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Zhang X, Zhang X, Yong T, Gan L, Yang X. Boosting antitumor efficacy of nanoparticles by modulating tumor mechanical microenvironment. EBioMedicine 2024; 105:105200. [PMID: 38876044 PMCID: PMC11225208 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Nanoparticles have shown great potential for tumor targeting delivery via enhanced permeability and retention effect. However, the tumor mechanical microenvironment, characterized by dense extracellular matrix (ECM), high tumor stiffness and solid stress, leads to only 0.7% of administered dose accumulating in solid tumors and even fewer (∼0.0014%) reaching tumor cells, limiting the therapeutic efficacy of nanoparticles. Furthermore, the tumor mechanical microenvironment can regulate tumor cell stemness, promote tumor invasion, metastasis and reduce treatment efficacy. In this review, methods detecting the mechanical are introduced. Strategies for modulating the mechanical microenvironment including elimination of dense ECM by physical, chemical and biological methods, disruption of ECM formation, depletion or inhibition of cancer-associated fibroblasts, are then summarized. Finally, prospects and challenges for further clinical applications of mechano-modulating strategies to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of nanomedicines are discussed. This review may provide guidance for the rational design and application of nanoparticles in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqiong Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xiaojuan Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Tuying Yong
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry and Materia Medica, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Lu Gan
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry and Materia Medica, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Xiangliang Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry and Materia Medica, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
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Cheung BCH, Abbed RJ, Wu M, Leggett SE. 3D Traction Force Microscopy in Biological Gels: From Single Cells to Multicellular Spheroids. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2024; 26:93-118. [PMID: 38316064 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-103122-031130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Cell traction force plays a critical role in directing cellular functions, such as proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Current understanding of cell traction force is largely derived from 2D measurements where cells are plated on 2D substrates. However, 2D measurements do not recapitulate a vital aspect of living systems; that is, cells actively remodel their surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM), and the remodeled ECM, in return, can have a profound impact on cell phenotype and traction force generation. This reciprocal adaptivity of living systems is encoded in the material properties of biological gels. In this review, we summarize recent progress in measuring cell traction force for cells embedded within 3D biological gels, with an emphasis on cell-ECM cross talk. We also provide perspectives on tools and techniques that could be adapted to measure cell traction force in complex biochemical and biophysical environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C H Cheung
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA;
| | - Rana J Abbed
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA;
| | - Mingming Wu
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA;
| | - Susan E Leggett
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA;
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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5
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Pardon G, Vander Roest AS, Chirikian O, Birnbaum F, Lewis H, Castillo EA, Wilson R, Denisin AK, Blair CA, Holbrook C, Koleckar K, Chang ACY, Blau HM, Pruitt BL. Tracking single hiPSC-derived cardiomyocyte contractile function using CONTRAX an efficient pipeline for traction force measurement. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5427. [PMID: 38926342 PMCID: PMC11208611 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49755-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CMs) are powerful in vitro models to study the mechanisms underlying cardiomyopathies and cardiotoxicity. Quantification of the contractile function in single hiPSC-CMs at high-throughput and over time is essential to disentangle how cellular mechanisms affect heart function. Here, we present CONTRAX, an open-access, versatile, and streamlined pipeline for quantitative tracking of the contractile dynamics of single hiPSC-CMs over time. Three software modules enable: parameter-based identification of single hiPSC-CMs; automated video acquisition of >200 cells/hour; and contractility measurements via traction force microscopy. We analyze >4,500 hiPSC-CMs over time in the same cells under orthogonal conditions of culture media and substrate stiffnesses; +/- drug treatment; +/- cardiac mutations. Using undirected clustering, we reveal converging maturation patterns, quantifiable drug response to Mavacamten and significant deficiencies in hiPSC-CMs with disease mutations. CONTRAX empowers researchers with a potent quantitative approach to develop cardiac therapies.
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Grants
- K99 HL153679 NHLBI NIH HHS
- RM1 GM131981 NIGMS NIH HHS
- 20POST35211011 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- 17CSA33590101 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- 18CDA34110411 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- 1R21HL13099301 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- 18POST34080160 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- 1F31HL158227 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- F31 HL158227 NHLBI NIH HHS
- 201411MFE-338745-169197 Gouvernement du Canada | Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Instituts de Recherche en Santé du Canada)
- P2SKP2_164954 Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Swiss National Science Foundation)
- 13POST14480004 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- RM1GM131981 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- 82070248 National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)
- P400PM_180825 Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Swiss National Science Foundation)
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- Shanghai Pujiang Program 19PJ1407000 Program for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning 0900000024 to A.C.Y.C. Innovative Research Team of High-Level Local Universities in Shanghai (A.C.Y.C.)
- the Baxter Foundation, Li Ka Shing Foundation and The Stanford Cardiovascular Institute
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaspard Pardon
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- School of Life Sciences, EPFL École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alison S Vander Roest
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Engineering, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Orlando Chirikian
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Foster Birnbaum
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Henry Lewis
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Erica A Castillo
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Robin Wilson
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Aleksandra K Denisin
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cheavar A Blair
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Colin Holbrook
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kassie Koleckar
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alex C Y Chang
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine and Department of Cardiology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Helen M Blau
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Beth L Pruitt
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
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Hu Y, Li H, Zhang C, Feng J, Wang W, Chen W, Yu M, Liu X, Zhang X, Liu Z. DNA-based ForceChrono probes for deciphering single-molecule force dynamics in living cells. Cell 2024; 187:3445-3459.e15. [PMID: 38838668 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Understanding cellular force transmission dynamics is crucial in mechanobiology. We developed the DNA-based ForceChrono probe to measure force magnitude, duration, and loading rates at the single-molecule level within living cells. The ForceChrono probe circumvents the limitations of in vitro single-molecule force spectroscopy by enabling direct measurements within the dynamic cellular environment. Our findings reveal integrin force loading rates of 0.5-2 pN/s and durations ranging from tens of seconds in nascent adhesions to approximately 100 s in mature focal adhesions. The probe's robust and reversible design allows for continuous monitoring of these dynamic changes as cells undergo morphological transformations. Additionally, by analyzing how mutations, deletions, or pharmacological interventions affect these parameters, we can deduce the functional roles of specific proteins or domains in cellular mechanotransduction. The ForceChrono probe provides detailed insights into the dynamics of mechanical forces, advancing our understanding of cellular mechanics and the molecular mechanisms of mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuru Hu
- The Institute for Advanced Studies, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China
| | - Hongyun Li
- The Institute for Advanced Studies, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China.
| | - Chen Zhang
- The Institute for Advanced Studies, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China
| | - Jingjing Feng
- The Institute for Advanced Studies, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China
| | - Wenxu Wang
- The Institute for Advanced Studies, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China
| | - Wei Chen
- The Institute for Advanced Studies, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China
| | - Miao Yu
- The Institute for Advanced Studies, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China
| | - Xinping Liu
- The Institute for Advanced Studies, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China
| | - Xinghua Zhang
- The Institute for Advanced Studies, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China.
| | - Zheng Liu
- The Institute for Advanced Studies, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China.
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Stehbens SJ, Scarpa E, White MD. Perspectives in collective cell migration - moving forward. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs261549. [PMID: 38904172 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Collective cell migration, where cells move as a cohesive unit, is a vital process underlying morphogenesis and cancer metastasis. Thanks to recent advances in imaging and modelling, we are beginning to understand the intricate relationship between a cell and its microenvironment and how this shapes cell polarity, metabolism and modes of migration. The use of biophysical and mathematical models offers a fresh perspective on how cells migrate collectively, either flowing in a fluid-like state or transitioning to more static states. Continuing to unite researchers in biology, physics and mathematics will enable us to decode more complex biological behaviours that underly collective cell migration; only then can we understand how this coordinated movement of cells influences the formation and organisation of tissues and directs the spread of metastatic cancer. In this Perspective, we highlight exciting discoveries, emerging themes and common challenges that have arisen in recent years, and possible ways forward to bridge the gaps in our current understanding of collective cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Stehbens
- The University of Queensland, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Elena Scarpa
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Melanie D White
- The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- The University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Sciences, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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8
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Lin YJ, Tan XHM, Wang Y, Chung PS, Zhang X, Wu TH, Wu TY, Deb A, Chiou PY. Label-Free Optical Mapping for Large-Area Biomechanical Dynamics of Multicellular Systems. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.12.598186. [PMID: 38915576 PMCID: PMC11195166 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.12.598186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Mapping cellular activities over large areas is crucial for understanding the collective behaviors of multicellular systems. Biomechanical properties, such as cellular traction force, serve as critical regulators of physiological states and molecular configurations. However, existing technologies for mapping large-area biomechanical dynamics are limited by the small field of view and scanning nature. To address this, we propose a novel platform that utilizes a vast number of optical diffractive elements for mapping large-area biomechanical dynamics. This platform achieves a field-of-view of 10.6 mm X 10.6 mm, a three-orders-of-magnitude improvement over traditional traction force microscopy. Transient mechanical waves generated by monolayer neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were captured with high spatiotemporal resolution (130 fps and 20 µm for temporal and spatial resolution, respectively). Furthermore, its label-free nature allows for long-term observations extended to a week, with minimal disruption of cellular functions. Finally, simultaneous measurements of calcium ions concentrations and biomechanical dynamics are demonstrated.
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9
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Dalaka E, Hill JS, Booth JHH, Popczyk A, Pulver SR, Gather MC, Schubert M. Deformable microlaser force sensing. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2024; 13:129. [PMID: 38834554 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-024-01471-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Mechanical forces are key regulators of cellular behavior and function, affecting many fundamental biological processes such as cell migration, embryogenesis, immunological responses, and pathological states. Specialized force sensors and imaging techniques have been developed to quantify these otherwise invisible forces in single cells and in vivo. However, current techniques rely heavily on high-resolution microscopy and do not allow interrogation of optically dense tissue, reducing their application to 2D cell cultures and highly transparent biological tissue. Here, we introduce DEFORM, deformable microlaser force sensing, a spectroscopic technique that detects sub-nanonewton forces with unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution. DEFORM is based on the spectral analysis of laser emission from dye-doped oil microdroplets and uses the force-induced lifting of laser mode degeneracy in these droplets to detect nanometer deformations. Following validation by atomic force microscopy and development of a model that links changes in laser spectrum to applied force, DEFORM is used to measure forces in 3D and at depths of hundreds of microns within tumor spheroids and late-stage Drosophila larva. We furthermore show continuous force sensing with single-cell spatial and millisecond temporal resolution, thus paving the way for non-invasive studies of biomechanical forces in advanced stages of embryogenesis, tissue remodeling, and tumor invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Dalaka
- Centre of Biophotonics, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, UK
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joseph S Hill
- Centre of Biophotonics, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, UK
- Humboldt Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Jonathan H H Booth
- Humboldt Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, South Street, St Andrews, UK
| | - Anna Popczyk
- Humboldt Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Stefan R Pulver
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, South Street, St Andrews, UK
| | - Malte C Gather
- Centre of Biophotonics, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, UK.
- Humboldt Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany.
| | - Marcel Schubert
- Humboldt Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany.
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10
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Chen H, Wang S, Cao Y, Lei H. Molecular Force Sensors for Biological Application. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6198. [PMID: 38892386 PMCID: PMC11173168 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The mechanical forces exerted by cells on their surrounding microenvironment are known as cellular traction forces. These forces play crucial roles in various biological processes, such as tissue development, wound healing and cell functions. However, it is hard for traditional techniques to measure cellular traction forces accurately because their magnitude (from pN to nN) and the length scales over which they occur (from nm to μm) are extremely small. In order to fully understand mechanotransduction, highly sensitive tools for measuring cellular forces are needed. Current powerful techniques for measuring traction forces include traction force microscopy (TFM) and fluorescent molecular force sensors (FMFS). In this review, we elucidate the force imaging principles of TFM and FMFS. Then we highlight the application of FMFS in a variety of biological processes and offer our perspectives and insights into the potential applications of FMFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyan Chen
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; (H.C.); (S.W.)
| | - Shouhan Wang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; (H.C.); (S.W.)
| | - Yi Cao
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; (H.C.); (S.W.)
| | - Hai Lei
- School of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- Institute for Advanced Study in Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
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11
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Vos BE, Muenker TM, Betz T. Characterizing intracellular mechanics via optical tweezers-based microrheology. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 88:102374. [PMID: 38824902 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2024.102374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Intracellular organization is a highly regulated homeostatic state maintained to ensure eukaryotic cells' correct and efficient functioning. Thanks to decades of research, vast knowledge of the proteins involved in intracellular transport and organization has been acquired. However, how these influence and potentially regulate the intracellular mechanical properties of the cell is largely unknown. There is a deep knowledge gap between the understanding of cortical mechanics, which is accessible by a series of experimental tools, and the intracellular situation that has been largely neglected due to the difficulty of performing intracellular mechanics measurements. Recently, tools required for such quantitative and localized analysis of intracellular mechanics have been introduced. Here, we review how these approaches and the resulting viscoelastic models lead the way to a full mechanical description of the cytoplasm, which is instrumental for a quantitative characterization of the intracellular life of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart E Vos
- Third Institute of Physics, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Till M Muenker
- Third Institute of Physics, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Timo Betz
- Third Institute of Physics, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence 'Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells' (MBExC), Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
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12
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Yang C, Yin D, Zhang H, Badea I, Yang SM, Zhang W. Cell Migration Assays and Their Application to Wound Healing Assays-A Critical Review. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:720. [PMID: 38930690 PMCID: PMC11205366 DOI: 10.3390/mi15060720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, cell migration assays (CMAs) have emerged as a tool to study the migration of cells along with their physiological responses under various stimuli, including both mechanical and bio-chemical properties. CMAs are a generic system in that they support various biological applications, such as wound healing assays. In this paper, we review the development of the CMA in the context of its application to wound healing assays. As such, the wound healing assay will be used to derive the requirements on CMAs. This paper will provide a comprehensive and critical review of the development of CMAs along with their application to wound healing assays. One salient feature of our methodology in this paper is the application of the so-called design thinking; namely we define the requirements of CMAs first and then take them as a benchmark for various developments of CMAs in the literature. The state-of-the-art CMAs are compared with this benchmark to derive the knowledge and technological gap with CMAs in the literature. We will also discuss future research directions for the CMA together with its application to wound healing assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 200051, China;
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
| | - Di Yin
- School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (D.Y.); (H.Z.)
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; (D.Y.); (H.Z.)
| | - Ildiko Badea
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada;
| | - Shih-Mo Yang
- School of Mechatronic Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Wenjun Zhang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 200051, China;
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
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13
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Dorta D, Plazaola C, Carrasco J, Alves-Rosa MF, Coronado LM, Correa R, Zambrano M, Gutiérrez-Medina B, Sarmiento-Gómez E, Spadafora C, Gonzalez G. Mechanical Characterization of the Erythrocyte Membrane Using a Capacitor-Based Technique. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:590. [PMID: 38793163 PMCID: PMC11122917 DOI: 10.3390/mi15050590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Pathological processes often change the mechanical properties of cells. Increased rigidity could be a marker of cellular malfunction. Erythrocytes are a type of cell that deforms to squeeze through tiny capillaries; changes in their rigidity can dramatically affect their functionality. Furthermore, differences in the homeostatic elasticity of the cell can be used as a tool for diagnosis and even for choosing the adequate treatment for some illnesses. More accurate types of equipment needed to study biomechanical phenomena at the single-cell level are very costly and thus out of reach for many laboratories around the world. This study presents a simple and low-cost technique to study the rigidity of red blood cells (RBCs) through the application of electric fields in a hand-made microfluidic chamber that uses a capacitor principle. As RBCs are deformed with the application of voltage, cells are observed under a light microscope. From mechanical force vs. deformation data, the elastic constant of the cells is determined. The results obtained with the capacitor-based method were compared with those obtained using optical tweezers, finding good agreement. In addition, P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes were tested with the electric field applicator. Our technique provides a simple means of testing the mechanical properties of individual cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doriana Dorta
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Exactas y Tecnología, Universidad de Panamá, Panama City 06001-01103, Panama;
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Panama City 1843-01103, Panama; (J.C.); (M.F.A.-R.); (L.M.C.); (R.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Carlos Plazaola
- Facultad de Ingeniería Mecánica, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Panama City 0819-07289, Panama;
| | - Jafeth Carrasco
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Panama City 1843-01103, Panama; (J.C.); (M.F.A.-R.); (L.M.C.); (R.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Maria F. Alves-Rosa
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Panama City 1843-01103, Panama; (J.C.); (M.F.A.-R.); (L.M.C.); (R.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Lorena M. Coronado
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Panama City 1843-01103, Panama; (J.C.); (M.F.A.-R.); (L.M.C.); (R.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Ricardo Correa
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Panama City 1843-01103, Panama; (J.C.); (M.F.A.-R.); (L.M.C.); (R.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Maytee Zambrano
- Facultad de Ingeniería Eléctrica, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Panama City 0819-07289, Panama;
- Centro de Estudios Multidisciplinarios en Ciencias, Ingeniería y Tecnología (CEMCIT-AIP), Panama City 0819-07289, Panama
| | - Braulio Gutiérrez-Medina
- Advanced Materials Division, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica A. C. (IPICYT), San Luis Potosí 78216, Mexico;
| | - Erick Sarmiento-Gómez
- Departamento de Ingeniería Física, División de Ciencias e Ingenierías, Campus León, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 37320, Mexico;
| | - Carmenza Spadafora
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Panama City 1843-01103, Panama; (J.C.); (M.F.A.-R.); (L.M.C.); (R.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Guadalupe Gonzalez
- Facultad de Ingeniería Eléctrica, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Panama City 0819-07289, Panama;
- Centro de Estudios Multidisciplinarios en Ciencias, Ingeniería y Tecnología (CEMCIT-AIP), Panama City 0819-07289, Panama
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14
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Campàs O, Noordstra I, Yap AS. Adherens junctions as molecular regulators of emergent tissue mechanics. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:252-269. [PMID: 38093099 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00688-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Tissue and organ development during embryogenesis relies on the collective and coordinated action of many cells. Recent studies have revealed that tissue material properties, including transitions between fluid and solid tissue states, are controlled in space and time to shape embryonic structures and regulate cell behaviours. Although the collective cellular flows that sculpt tissues are guided by tissue-level physical changes, these ultimately emerge from cellular-level and subcellular-level molecular mechanisms. Adherens junctions are key subcellular structures, built from clusters of classical cadherin receptors. They mediate physical interactions between cells and connect biochemical signalling to the physical characteristics of cell contacts, hence playing a fundamental role in tissue morphogenesis. In this Review, we take advantage of the results of recent, quantitative measurements of tissue mechanics to relate the molecular and cellular characteristics of adherens junctions, including adhesion strength, tension and dynamics, to the emergent physical state of embryonic tissues. We focus on systems in which cell-cell interactions are the primary contributor to morphogenesis, without significant contribution from cell-matrix interactions. We suggest that emergent tissue mechanics is an important direction for future research, bridging cell biology, developmental biology and mechanobiology to provide a holistic understanding of morphogenesis in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otger Campàs
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Ivar Noordstra
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alpha S Yap
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
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15
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Maeda T, Shimamori K, Kurita H, Tokuraku K, Kuragano M. Amyloid β interferes with wound healing of brain microvascular endothelial cells by disorganizing the actin cytoskeleton. Exp Cell Res 2024; 436:113958. [PMID: 38325585 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.113958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a disease in which amyloid β (Aβ) is deposited in the cerebral blood vessels, reducing compliance, tearing and weakening of vessel walls, leading to cerebral hemorrhage. The mechanisms by which Aβ leads to focal wall fragmentation and intimal damage are not well understood. We analyzed the motility of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMECs) in real-time using a wound-healing assay. We observed the suppression of cell migration by visualizing Aβ aggregation using quantum dot (QD) nanoprobes. In addition, using QD nanoprobes and a SiR-actin probe, we simultaneously observed Aβ aggregation and F-actin organization in real-time for the first time. Aβ began to aggregate at the edge of endothelial cells, reducing cell motility. In addition, Aβ aggregation disorganized the actin cytoskeleton and induced abnormal actin aggregation. Aβ aggregated actively in the anterior group, where cell motility was active. Our findings may be a first step toward explaining the mechanism by which Aβ causes vascular wall fragility, bleeding, and rebleeding in CAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Maeda
- Graduate School of Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology, Hokkaido, 050-8585, Japan; Department of Neurosurgery, Ohkawara Neurosurgical Hospital, Hokkaido, 050-0082, Japan; Department of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, 350-1298, Japan
| | - Keiya Shimamori
- Graduate School of Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology, Hokkaido, 050-8585, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kurita
- Department of Cerebrovascular Surgery, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, 350-1298, Japan
| | - Kiyotaka Tokuraku
- Graduate School of Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology, Hokkaido, 050-8585, Japan
| | - Masahiro Kuragano
- Graduate School of Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology, Hokkaido, 050-8585, Japan.
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16
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Gao Q, Liu J, Wang M, Liu X, Jiang Y, Su J. Biomaterials regulates BMSCs differentiation via mechanical microenvironment. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2024; 157:213738. [PMID: 38154401 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are crucial for bone tissue regeneration, the mechanical microenvironment of hard tissues, including bone and teeth, significantly affects the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Biomaterials may mimic the microenvironment of the extracellular matrix and provide mechanical signals to regulate BMSCs differentiation via inducing the secretion of various intracellular factors. Biomaterials direct the differentiation of BMSCs via mechanical signals, including tension, compression, shear, hydrostatic pressure, stiffness, elasticity, and viscoelasticity, which can be transmitted to cells through mechanical signalling pathways. Besides, biomaterials with piezoelectric effects regulate BMSCs differentiation via indirect mechanical signals, such as, electronic signals, which are transformed from mechanical stimuli by piezoelectric biomaterials. Mechanical stimulation facilitates achieving vectored stem cell fate regulation, while understanding the underlying mechanisms remains challenging. Herein, this review summarizes the intracellular factors, including translation factors, epigenetic modifications, and miRNA level, as well as the extracellular factor, including direct and indirect mechanical signals, which regulate the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Besides, this review will also give a comprehensive summary about how mechanical stimuli regulate cellular behaviours, as well as how biomaterials promote the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs via mechanical microenvironments. The cellular behaviours and activated signal pathways will give more implications for the design of biomaterials with superior properties for bone tissue engineering. Moreover, it will also provide inspiration for the construction of bone organoids which is a useful tool for mimicking in vivo bone tissue microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianmin Gao
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, NO.333 Nanchen Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China; Organoid Research Centre, Shanghai University, NO.333 Nanchen Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China; National Centre for Translational Medicine (Shanghai) SHU Branch, NO.333 Nanchen Road, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Jinlong Liu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, NO.333 Nanchen Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China; Organoid Research Centre, Shanghai University, NO.333 Nanchen Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China; National Centre for Translational Medicine (Shanghai) SHU Branch, NO.333 Nanchen Road, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Mingkai Wang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, NO.333 Nanchen Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China; Organoid Research Centre, Shanghai University, NO.333 Nanchen Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China; National Centre for Translational Medicine (Shanghai) SHU Branch, NO.333 Nanchen Road, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Xiangfei Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Zhongye Hospital, NO. 456 Chunlei Road, Shanghai 200941, PR China.
| | - Yingying Jiang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, NO.333 Nanchen Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China.
| | - Jiacan Su
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, NO.333 Nanchen Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China; Organoid Research Centre, Shanghai University, NO.333 Nanchen Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China; National Centre for Translational Medicine (Shanghai) SHU Branch, NO.333 Nanchen Road, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China; Department of Orthopedics, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, NO.1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
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17
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Gisbert VG, Espinosa FM, Sanchez JG, Serrano MC, Garcia R. Nanorheology and Nanoindentation Revealed a Softening and an Increased Viscous Fluidity of Adherent Mammalian Cells upon Increasing the Frequency. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2304884. [PMID: 37775942 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
The nanomechanical response of a cell depends on the frequency at which the cell is probed. The components of the cell that contribute to this property and their interplay are not well understood. Here, two force microscopy methods are integrated to characterize the frequency and/or the velocity-dependent properties of living cells. It is shown on HeLa and fibroblasts, that cells soften and fluidize upon increasing the frequency or the velocity of the deformation. This property was independent of the type and values (25 or 1000 nm) of the deformation. At low frequencies (2-10 Hz) or velocities (1-10 µm s-1 ), the response is dominated by the mechanical properties of the cell surface. At higher frequencies (>10 Hz) or velocities (>10 µm s-1 ), the response is dominated by the hydrodynamic drag of the cytosol. Softening and fluidization does not seem to involve any structural remodeling. It reflects a redistribution of the applied stress between the solid and liquid-like elements of the cell as the frequency or the velocity is changed. The data indicates that the quasistatic mechanical properties of a cell featuring a cytoskeleton pathology might be mimicked by the response of a non-pathological cell which is probed at a high frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor G Gisbert
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/ Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Francsico M Espinosa
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/ Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Juan G Sanchez
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/ Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Maria Concepcion Serrano
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/ Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Ricardo Garcia
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/ Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, Madrid, 28049, Spain
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18
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Pinheiro D, Mitchel J. Pulling the strings on solid-to-liquid phase transitions in cell collectives. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 86:102310. [PMID: 38176350 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Cell collectives must dynamically adapt to different biological contexts. For instance, in homeostatic conditions, epithelia must establish a barrier between body compartments and resist external stresses, while during development, wound healing or cancer invasion, these tissues undergo extensive remodeling. Using analogies from inert, passive materials, changes in cellular density, shape, rearrangements and/or migration were shown to result in collective transitions between solid and fluid states. However, what biological mechanisms govern these transitions remains an open question. In particular, the upstream signaling pathways and molecular effectors controlling the key physical axes determining tissue rheology and dynamics remain poorly understood. In this perspective, we focus on emerging evidence identifying the first biological signals determining the collective state of living tissues, with an emphasis on how these mechanisms are exploited for functionality across biological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Pinheiro
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, 1030, Austria
| | - Jennifer Mitchel
- Department of Biology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA.
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19
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Wu W, Peng Y, Xu M, Yan T, Zhang D, Chen Y, Mei K, Chen Q, Wang X, Qiao Z, Wang C, Wu S, Zhang Q. Deep-Learning-Based Nanomechanical Vibration for Rapid and Label-Free Assay of Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition. ACS NANO 2024; 18:3480-3496. [PMID: 38169507 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c10811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is a profound danger to our life and health. The classification and related studies of epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes of cancer cells are key scientific questions in cancer research. Here, we investigated cancer cell colonies from a mechanical perspective and developed an assay for classifying epithelial/mesenchymal cancer cell colonies using the biomechanical fingerprint in the form of "nanovibration" in combination with deep learning. The classification method requires only 1 s of vibration data and has a classification accuracy of nearly 92.5%. The method has also been validated for the screening of anticancer drugs. Compared with traditional methods, the method has the advantages of being nondestructive, label-free, and highly sensitive. Furthermore, we proposed a perspective that subcellular structure influences the amplitude and spectrum of nanovibrations and demonstrated it using experiments and numerical simulation. These findings allow internal changes in the cell colony to be manifested by nanovibrations. This work provides a perspective and an ancillary method for cancer cell phenotype diagnosis and promotes the study of biomechanical mechanisms of cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongpei Peng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengjun Xu
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianhao Yan
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Duo Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Kainan Mei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiubo Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiapeng Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Zihan Qiao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Shangquan Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingchuan Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Material, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, People's Republic of China
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20
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Xu F, Zhang S, Ma L, Hou Y, Li J, Denisenko A, Li Z, Spatz J, Wrachtrup J, Lei H, Cao Y, Wei Q, Chu Z. Quantum-enhanced diamond molecular tension microscopy for quantifying cellular forces. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadi5300. [PMID: 38266085 PMCID: PMC10807811 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi5300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The constant interplay and information exchange between cells and the microenvironment are essential to their survival and ability to execute biological functions. To date, a few leading technologies such as traction force microscopy, optical/magnetic tweezers, and molecular tension-based fluorescence microscopy are broadly used in measuring cellular forces. However, the considerable limitations, regarding the sensitivity and ambiguities in data interpretation, are hindering our thorough understanding of mechanobiology. Here, we propose an innovative approach, namely, quantum-enhanced diamond molecular tension microscopy (QDMTM), to precisely quantify the integrin-based cell adhesive forces. Specifically, we construct a force-sensing platform by conjugating the magnetic nanotags labeled, force-responsive polymer to the surface of a diamond membrane containing nitrogen-vacancy centers. Notably, the cellular forces will be converted into detectable magnetic variations in QDMTM. After careful validation, we achieved the quantitative cellular force mapping by correlating measurement with the established theoretical model. We anticipate our method can be routinely used in studies like cell-cell or cell-material interactions and mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Xu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shuxiang Zhang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Linjie Ma
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yong Hou
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jie Li
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Andrej Denisenko
- 3rd Institute of Physics, Research Center SCoPE and IQST, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Zifu Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Joachim Spatz
- Department for Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials (IMSEAM), University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jörg Wrachtrup
- 3rd Institute of Physics, Research Center SCoPE and IQST, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Hai Lei
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Yi Cao
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Qiang Wei
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Zhiqin Chu
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
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21
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Guglielmotti V, Fuhry E, Neubert TJ, Kuhl M, Pallarola D, Balasubramanian K. Real-Time Monitoring of Cell Adhesion onto a Soft Substrate by a Graphene Impedance Biosensor. ACS Sens 2024; 9:101-109. [PMID: 38141037 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c01705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Soft substrates are interesting for many applications, ranging from mimicking the cellular microenvironment to implants. Conductive electrodes on such substrates allow the realization of flexible, elastic, and transparent sensors. Single-layer graphene as a candidate for such electrodes brings the advantage that the active area of the sensor is transparent and conformal to the underlying substrate. Here, we overcome several challenges facing the routine realization of graphene cell sensors on a canonical soft substrate, namely, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). We have systematically studied the effect of surface energy before, during, and after the transfer of graphene. Thus, we have identified a suitable support polymer, optimal substrate (pre)treatment, and an appropriate solvent for the removal of the support. Using this procedure, we can reproducibly obtain stable and intact graphene sensors on a millimeter scale on PDMS, which can withstand continuous measurements in cell culture media for several days. From local nanomechanical measurements, we infer that the softness of the substrate is slightly affected after the graphene transfer. However, we can modulate the stiffness using PDMS with differing compositions. Finally, we show that graphene sensors on PDMS can be successfully used as soft electrodes for real-time monitoring of the cell adhesion kinetics. The routine availability of single-layer graphene electrodes on a soft substrate with tunable stiffness will open a new avenue for studies, where the PDMS-liquid interface is made conducting with minimal alteration of the intrinsic material properties such as softness, flexibility, elasticity, and transparency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Guglielmotti
- Department of Chemistry, School of Analytical Sciences Adlershof (SALSA) & IRIS Adlershof, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10099, Germany
- Instituto de Nanosistemas, Universidad Nacional de General San Martín, San Martín 1650, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emil Fuhry
- Department of Chemistry, School of Analytical Sciences Adlershof (SALSA) & IRIS Adlershof, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10099, Germany
| | - Tilmann J Neubert
- Department of Chemistry, School of Analytical Sciences Adlershof (SALSA) & IRIS Adlershof, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10099, Germany
| | - Michel Kuhl
- Department of Chemistry, School of Analytical Sciences Adlershof (SALSA) & IRIS Adlershof, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10099, Germany
| | - Diego Pallarola
- Instituto de Nanosistemas, Universidad Nacional de General San Martín, San Martín 1650, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Kannan Balasubramanian
- Department of Chemistry, School of Analytical Sciences Adlershof (SALSA) & IRIS Adlershof, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10099, Germany
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22
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Singh Y, Hocky GM. Improved Prediction of Molecular Response to Pulling by Combining Force Tempering with Replica Exchange Methods. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:706-715. [PMID: 38230998 PMCID: PMC10823473 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c07081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Small mechanical forces play important functional roles in many crucial cellular processes, including in the dynamic behavior of the cytoskeleton and in the regulation of osmotic pressure through membrane-bound proteins. Molecular simulations offer the promise of being able to design the behavior of proteins that sense and respond to these forces. However, it is difficult to predict and identify the effect of the relevant piconewton (pN) scale forces due to their small magnitude. Previously, we introduced the Infinite Switch Simulated Tempering in Force (FISST) method, which allows one to estimate the effect of a range of applied forces from a single molecular dynamics simulation, and also demonstrated that FISST additionally accelerates sampling of a molecule's conformational landscape. For some problems, we find that this acceleration is not sufficient to capture all relevant conformational fluctuations, and hence, here we demonstrate that FISST can be combined with either temperature replica exchange or solute tempering approaches to produce a hybrid method that enables more robust prediction of the effect of small forces on molecular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuvraj Singh
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Glen M. Hocky
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
- Simons
Center for Computational Physical Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
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23
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Pirnat G, Marinčič M, Ravnik M, Humar M. Quantifying local stiffness and forces in soft biological tissues using droplet optical microcavities. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2314884121. [PMID: 38232279 PMCID: PMC10823245 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2314884121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanical properties of biological tissues fundamentally underlie various biological processes and noncontact, local, and microscopic methods can provide fundamental insights. Here, we present an approach for quantifying the local mechanical properties of biological materials at the microscale, based on measuring the spectral shifts of the optical resonances in droplet microcavities. Specifically, the developed method allows for measurements of deformations in dye-doped oil droplets embedded in soft materials or biological tissues with an error of only 1 nm, which in turn enables measurements of anisotropic stress inside tissues as small as a few pN/μm2. Furthermore, by applying an external strain, Young's modulus can be measured in the range from 1 Pa to 35 kPa, which covers most human soft tissues. Using multiple droplet microcavities, our approach could enable mapping of stiffness and forces in inhomogeneous soft tissues and could also be applied to in vivo and single-cell experiments. The developed method can potentially lead to insights into the mechanics of biological tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Pirnat
- Condensed Matter Department, J. Stefan Institute, LjubljanaSI-1000, Slovenia
- Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, LjubljanaSI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Matevž Marinčič
- Condensed Matter Department, J. Stefan Institute, LjubljanaSI-1000, Slovenia
- Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, LjubljanaSI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Miha Ravnik
- Condensed Matter Department, J. Stefan Institute, LjubljanaSI-1000, Slovenia
- Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, LjubljanaSI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Matjaž Humar
- Condensed Matter Department, J. Stefan Institute, LjubljanaSI-1000, Slovenia
- Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, LjubljanaSI-1000, Slovenia
- Center of Excellence on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology - Nanocenter, LjubljanaSI-1000, Slovenia
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24
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Wei Q, Xiong Y, Ma Y, Liu D, Lu Y, Zhang S, Wang X, Huang H, Liu Y, Dao M, Gong X. High-throughput single-cell assay for precise measurement of the intrinsic mechanical properties and shape characteristics of red blood cells. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:305-316. [PMID: 38087958 PMCID: PMC10949978 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00323j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The intrinsic physical and mechanical properties of red blood cells (RBCs), including their geometric and rheological characteristics, can undergo changes in various circulatory and metabolic diseases. However, clinical diagnosis using RBC biophysical phenotypes remains impractical due to the unique biconcave shape, remarkable deformability, and high heterogeneity within different subpopulations. Here, we combine the hydrodynamic mechanisms of fluid-cell interactions in micro circular tubes with a machine learning method to develop a relatively high-throughput microfluidic technology that can accurately measure the shear modulus of the membrane, viscosity, surface area, and volume of individual RBCs. The present method can detect the subtle changes of mechanical properties in various RBC components at continuum scales in response to different doses of cytoskeletal drugs. We also investigate the correlation between glycosylated hemoglobin and RBC mechanical properties. Our study develops a methodology that combines microfluidic technology and machine learning to explore the material properties of cells based on fluid-cell interactions. This approach holds promise in offering novel label-free single-cell-assay-based biophysical markers for RBCs, thereby enhancing the potential for more robust disease diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaodong Wei
- Key Laboratory of Hydrodynamics (Ministry of Education), Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Naval Architecture Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Ying Xiong
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical School, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yuhang Ma
- Endocrinology Department, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Deyun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Hydrodynamics (Ministry of Education), Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Naval Architecture Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Yunshu Lu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shenghong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Hydrodynamics (Ministry of Education), Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Naval Architecture Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Hydrodynamics (Ministry of Education), Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Naval Architecture Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Huaxiong Huang
- Research Center for Mathematics, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519088, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Research and Application for Data Science, BNU-HKBU United International College, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519088, China
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Yingbin Liu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Dao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore
| | - Xiaobo Gong
- Key Laboratory of Hydrodynamics (Ministry of Education), Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Naval Architecture Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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25
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Schwayer C, Brückner DB. Connecting theory and experiment in cell and tissue mechanics. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs261515. [PMID: 38149871 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding complex living systems, which are fundamentally constrained by physical phenomena, requires combining experimental data with theoretical physical and mathematical models. To develop such models, collaborations between experimental cell biologists and theoreticians are increasingly important but these two groups often face challenges achieving mutual understanding. To help navigate these challenges, this Perspective discusses different modelling approaches, including bottom-up hypothesis-driven and top-down data-driven models, and highlights their strengths and applications. Using cell mechanics as an example, we explore the integration of specific physical models with experimental data from the molecular, cellular and tissue level up to multiscale input. We also emphasize the importance of constraining model complexity and outline strategies for crosstalk between experimental design and model development. Furthermore, we highlight how physical models can provide conceptual insights and produce unifying and generalizable frameworks for biological phenomena. Overall, this Perspective aims to promote fruitful collaborations that advance our understanding of complex biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Schwayer
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - David B Brückner
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
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26
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Tervonen A, Korpela S, Nymark S, Hyttinen J, Ihalainen TO. The Effect of Substrate Stiffness on Elastic Force Transmission in the Epithelial Monolayers over Short Timescales. Cell Mol Bioeng 2023; 16:475-495. [PMID: 38099211 PMCID: PMC10716100 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-023-00772-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The importance of mechanical forces and microenvironment in guiding cellular behavior has been widely accepted. Together with the extracellular matrix (ECM), epithelial cells form a highly connected mechanical system subjected to various mechanical cues from their environment, such as ECM stiffness, and tensile and compressive forces. ECM stiffness has been linked to many pathologies, including tumor formation. However, our understanding of the effect of ECM stiffness and its heterogeneities on rapid force transduction in multicellular systems has not been fully addressed. Methods We used experimental and computational methods. Epithelial cells were cultured on elastic hydrogels with fluorescent nanoparticles. Single cells were moved by a micromanipulator, and epithelium and substrate deformation were recorded. We developed a computational model to replicate our experiments and quantify the force distribution in the epithelium. Our model further enabled simulations with local stiffness gradients. Results We found that substrate stiffness affects the force transduction and the cellular deformation following an external force. Also, our results indicate that the heterogeneities, e.g., gradients, in the stiffness can substantially influence the strain redistribution in the cell monolayers. Furthermore, we found that the cells' apico-basal elasticity provides a level of mechanical isolation between the apical cell-cell junctions and the basal focal adhesions. Conclusions Our simulation results show that increased ECM stiffness, e.g., due to a tumor, can mechanically isolate cells and modulate rapid mechanical signaling between cells over distances. Furthermore, the developed model has the potential to facilitate future studies on the interactions between epithelial monolayers and elastic substrates. Supplementary Information The online version of this article (10.1007/s12195-023-00772-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aapo Tervonen
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, University of Jyväskylä, Survontie 9 C, 40500 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Sanna Korpela
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Soile Nymark
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Jari Hyttinen
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Teemu O. Ihalainen
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
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27
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Pérez-García L, Selin M, Ciarlo A, Magazzù A, Pesce G, Sasso A, Volpe G, Pérez Castillo I, Arzola AV. Optimal calibration of optical tweezers with arbitrary integration time and sampling frequencies: a general framework [Invited]. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 14:6442-6469. [PMID: 38420310 PMCID: PMC10898575 DOI: 10.1364/boe.495468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Optical tweezers (OT) have become an essential technique in several fields of physics, chemistry, and biology as precise micromanipulation tools and microscopic force transducers. Quantitative measurements require the accurate calibration of the trap stiffness of the optical trap and the diffusion constant of the optically trapped particle. This is typically done by statistical estimators constructed from the position signal of the particle, which is recorded by a digital camera or a quadrant photodiode. The finite integration time and sampling frequency of the detector need to be properly taken into account. Here, we present a general approach based on the joint probability density function of the sampled trajectory that corrects exactly the biases due to the detector's finite integration time and limited sampling frequency, providing theoretical formulas for the most widely employed calibration methods: equipartition, mean squared displacement, autocorrelation, power spectral density, and force reconstruction via maximum-likelihood-estimator analysis (FORMA). Our results, tested with experiments and Monte Carlo simulations, will permit users of OT to confidently estimate the trap stiffness and diffusion constant, extending their use to a broader set of experimental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pérez-García
- Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Martin Selin
- Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Antonio Ciarlo
- Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Physics E. Pancini, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant’Angelo, Via Cintia, I- 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Magazzù
- Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Giuseppe Pesce
- Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Physics E. Pancini, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant’Angelo, Via Cintia, I- 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Sasso
- Department of Physics E. Pancini, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant’Angelo, Via Cintia, I- 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Volpe
- Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Isaac Pérez Castillo
- Departamento de Física, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, San Rafael Atlixco 186, Ciudad de México 09340, Mexico
| | - Alejandro V. Arzola
- Departamento de Física Cuántica y Fotónica, Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 04510, Cd. de México, Mexico
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28
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Banavar SP, Nelson CM. Mechanical properties pattern the skin. Science 2023; 382:880. [PMID: 37995222 DOI: 10.1126/science.adl2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Morphogens induce variations in tissue mechanics to promote feather budding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samhita P Banavar
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Celeste M Nelson
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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29
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Li Q, Chen Z, Zhang Y, Ding S, Ding H, Wang L, Xie Z, Fu Y, Wei M, Liu S, Chen J, Wang X, Gu Z. Imaging cellular forces with photonic crystals. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7369. [PMID: 37963911 PMCID: PMC10646022 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43090-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Current techniques for visualizing and quantifying cellular forces have limitations in live cell imaging, throughput, and multi-scale analysis, which impede progress in cell force research and its practical applications. We developed a photonic crystal cellular force microscopy (PCCFM) to image vertical cell forces over a wide field of view (1.3 mm ⨯ 1.0 mm, a 10 ⨯ objective image) at high speed (about 20 frames per second) without references. The photonic crystal hydrogel substrate (PCS) converts micro-nano deformations into perceivable color changes, enabling in situ visualization and quantification of tiny vertical cell forces with high throughput. It enabled long-term, cross-scale monitoring from subcellular focal adhesions to tissue-level cell sheets and aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiwei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zaozao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Biomaterials and Medical Devices, Southeast University, 215163, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuang Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haibo Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Luping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, 315211, Ningbo, China
| | - Zhuoying Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yifu Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mengxiao Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shengnan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jialun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhongze Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 210096, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
- Institute of Biomaterials and Medical Devices, Southeast University, 215163, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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30
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Viljoen A, Dufrêne YF. Mechanobiology: How pathogens use mechanics to modulate host interactions. Cell 2023; 186:4994-4995. [PMID: 37949055 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Mechanobiology explores how cells sense and respond to mechanical cues and how mechanics guide cell function, physiology, and disease. In this issue of Cell, Thacker and colleagues reveal how the tuberculosis-causing pathogen exploits the mechanical behavior of cord-like structures to promote infection, impacting immune response, antibiotic susceptibility, and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albertus Viljoen
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
| | - Yves F Dufrêne
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
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31
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Weng S, Devitt CC, Nyaoga BM, Havnen AE, Alvarado J, Wallingford JB. New tools reveal PCP-dependent polarized mechanics in the cortex and cytoplasm of single cells during convergent extension. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.07.566066. [PMID: 37986924 PMCID: PMC10659385 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.07.566066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Understanding biomechanics of biological systems is crucial for unraveling complex processes like tissue morphogenesis. However, current methods for studying cellular mechanics in vivo are limited by the need for specialized equipment and often provide limited spatiotemporal resolution. Here we introduce two new techniques, Tension by Transverse Fluctuation (TFlux) and in vivo microrheology, that overcome these limitations. They both offer time-resolved, subcellular biomechanical analysis using only fluorescent reporters and widely available microscopes. Employing these two techniques, we have revealed a planar cell polarity (PCP)-dependent mechanical gradient both in the cell cortex and the cytoplasm of individual cells engaged in convergent extension. Importantly, the non-invasive nature of these methods holds great promise for its application for uncovering subcellular mechanical variations across a wide array of biological contexts. Summary Non-invasive imaging-based techniques providing time-resolved biomechanical analysis at subcellular scales in developing vertebrate embryos.
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32
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Wang W, Chen W, Wu C, Zhang C, Feng J, Liu P, Hu Y, Li H, Sun F, Jiang K, Zhang X, Liu Z. Hydrogel-based molecular tension fluorescence microscopy for investigating receptor-mediated rigidity sensing. Nat Methods 2023; 20:1780-1789. [PMID: 37798478 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-02037-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) rigidity serves as a crucial mechanical cue impacting diverse biological processes. However, understanding the molecular mechanisms of rigidity sensing has been limited by the spatial resolution and force sensitivity of current cellular force measurement techniques. Here we developed a method to functionalize DNA tension probes on soft hydrogel surfaces in a controllable and reliable manner, enabling molecular tension fluorescence microscopy for rigidity sensing studies. Our findings showed that fibroblasts respond to substrate rigidity by recruiting more force-bearing integrins and modulating integrin sampling frequency of the ECM, rather than simply overloading the existing integrin-ligand bonds, to promote focal adhesion maturation. We also demonstrated that ECM rigidity positively regulates the pN force of T cell receptor-ligand bond and T cell receptor mechanical sampling frequency, promoting T cell activation. Thus, hydrogel-based molecular tension fluorescence microscopy implemented on a standard confocal microscope provides a simple and effective means to explore detailed molecular force information for rigidity-dependent biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxu Wang
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, the Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Chen
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, the Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chaoyang Wu
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, the Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingjing Feng
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, the Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Pengxiang Liu
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, the Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuru Hu
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, the Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongyun Li
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, the Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Sun
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, the Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kai Jiang
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinghua Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, the Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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Fu C, Huang W, Tang Q, Niu M, Guo S, Langenhan T, Song G, Yan J. Unveiling Mechanical Activation: GAIN Domain Unfolding and Dissociation in Adhesion GPCRs. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:9179-9186. [PMID: 37831892 PMCID: PMC10607210 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c01163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) have extracellular regions (ECRs) containing GPCR autoproteolysis-inducing (GAIN) domains. The GAIN domain enables the ECR to self-cleave into N- and C-terminal fragments. However, the impact of force on the GAIN domain's conformation, critical for mechanosensitive aGPCR activation, remains unclear. Our study investigated the mechanical stability of GAIN domains in three aGPCRs (B, G, and L subfamilies) at a loading rate of 1 pN/s. We discovered that forces of a few piconewtons can destabilize the GAIN domains. In autocleaved aGPCRs ADGRG1/GPR56 and ADGRL1/LPHN1, these forces cause the GAIN domain detachment from the membrane-proximal Stachel sequence, preceded by partial unfolding. In noncleavable aGPCR ADGRB3/BAI3 and cleavage-deficient mutant ADGRG1/GPR56-T383G, complex mechanical unfolding of the GAIN domain occurs. Additionally, GAIN domain detachment happens during cell migration. Our findings support the mechanical activation hypothesis of aGPCRs, emphasizing the sensitivity of the GAIN domain structure and detachment to physiological force ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyu Fu
- Department
of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117551, Singapore
- Mechanobiology
Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Wenmao Huang
- Department
of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117551, Singapore
- Mechanobiology
Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Qingnan Tang
- Department
of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117551, Singapore
| | - Minghui Niu
- School
of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Shiwen Guo
- Mechanobiology
Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
| | - Tobias Langenhan
- Rudolf
Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General
Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Gaojie Song
- School
of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jie Yan
- Department
of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117551, Singapore
- Mechanobiology
Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
- Centre
for Bioimaging Sciences, National University
of Singapore, Singapore 117557, Singapore
- Joint
School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University,
International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou 350207, China
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Tian Q, Yang F, Jiang H, Bhattacharyya P, Xie T, Ali AA, Sun Y, You M. Imaging and detecting intercellular tensile forces in spheroids and embryoid bodies using lipid-modified DNA probes. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1220079. [PMID: 37920824 PMCID: PMC10619156 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1220079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells continuously experience and respond to different physical forces that are used to regulate their physiology and functions. Our ability to measure these mechanical cues is essential for understanding the bases of various mechanosensing and mechanotransduction processes. While multiple strategies have been developed to study mechanical forces within two-dimensional (2D) cell culture monolayers, the force measurement at cell-cell junctions in real three-dimensional (3D) cell models is still pretty rare. Considering that in real biological systems, cells are exposed to forces from 3D directions, measuring these molecular forces in their native environment is thus highly critical for the better understanding of different development and disease processes. We have recently developed a type of DNA-based molecular probe for measuring intercellular tensile forces in 2D cell models. Herein, we will report the further development and first-time usage of these molecular tension probes to visualize and detect mechanical forces within 3D spheroids and embryoid bodies (EBs). These probes can spontaneously anchor onto live cell membranes via the attached lipid moieties. By varying the concentrations of these DNA probes and their incubation time, we have first characterized the kinetics and efficiency of probe penetration and loading onto tumor spheroids and stem cell EBs of different sizes. After optimization, we have further imaged and measured E-cadherin-mediated forces in these 3D spheroids and EBs for the first time. Our results indicated that these DNA-based molecular tension probes can be used to study the spatiotemporal distributions of target mechanotransduction processes. These powerful imaging tools may be potentially applied to fill the gap between ongoing research of biomechanics in 2D systems and that in real 3D cell complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Tian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Feiyu Yang
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Han Jiang
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Priyanka Bhattacharyya
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Tianfa Xie
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Ahsan Ausaf Ali
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Yubing Sun
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Mingxu You
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
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Cheikh MI, Tchoufag J, Osterfield M, Dean K, Bhaduri S, Zhang C, Mandadapu KK, Doubrovinski K. A comprehensive model of Drosophila epithelium reveals the role of embryo geometry and cell topology in mechanical responses. eLife 2023; 12:e85569. [PMID: 37782009 PMCID: PMC10584372 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to understand morphogenesis, it is necessary to know the material properties or forces shaping the living tissue. In spite of this need, very few in vivo measurements are currently available. Here, using the early Drosophila embryo as a model, we describe a novel cantilever-based technique which allows for the simultaneous quantification of applied force and tissue displacement in a living embryo. By analyzing data from a series of experiments in which embryonic epithelium is subjected to developmentally relevant perturbations, we conclude that the response to applied force is adiabatic and is dominated by elastic forces and geometric constraints, or system size effects. Crucially, computational modeling of the experimental data indicated that the apical surface of the epithelium must be softer than the basal surface, a result which we confirmed experimentally. Further, we used the combination of experimental data and comprehensive computational model to estimate the elastic modulus of the apical surface and set a lower bound on the elastic modulus of the basal surface. More generally, our investigations revealed important general features that we believe should be more widely addressed when quantitatively modeling tissue mechanics in any system. Specifically, different compartments of the same cell can have very different mechanical properties; when they do, they can contribute differently to different mechanical stimuli and cannot be merely averaged together. Additionally, tissue geometry can play a substantial role in mechanical response, and cannot be neglected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Ibrahim Cheikh
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Joel Tchoufag
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Miriam Osterfield
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Kevin Dean
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Swayamdipta Bhaduri
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Chuzhong Zhang
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonUnited States
| | - Kranthi Kiran Mandadapu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Konstantin Doubrovinski
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
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36
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Kim Y, Tram LTH, Kim KA, Kim BC. Defining Integrin Tension Required for Chemotaxis of Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells in Confinement. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202747. [PMID: 37256848 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Cancer metastasis is affected by chemical factors and physical cues. From cell adhesion to migration, mechanical tension applied to integrin expresses on the cell membrane and physical confinement significantly regulates cancer cell behaviors. Despite the physical interplay between integrins in cells and ligands in the tumor microenvironment, quantitative analysis of integrin tension during cancer cell migration in microconfined spaces remains elusive owing to the limited experimental tools. Herein, a platform termed microconfinement tension gauge tether to monitor spatial integrin tension with single-molecule precision by analyzing the epithelial-growth-factor-induced chemotaxis of metastatic human breast cancer cells in microfluidic channels is developed. The results reveal that the metastatic cancer cells exert the strongest integrin tension in the range of 54-100 pN at the leading edges of cells during chemokinetic migration on a planar surface, while the cells exert the strongest integrin tension exceeding 100 pN at the cell rear when entering microconfinement. Further analysis demonstrates that cells undergo mesenchymal migration under high integrin tension and less confinement, which is converted to amoeboid migration under low integrin tension or high confinement. In summary, the results identify a basic mechanism underlying the mechanical interactions between integrin tension and microenvironment that determines cancer invasion and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Kim
- Department of Nano-bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Le Thi Hong Tram
- Department of Nano-bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Ah Kim
- Department of Nano-bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoung Choul Kim
- Department of Nano-bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, 22012, Republic of Korea
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37
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Zhu Y, Zhang M, Sun Q, Wang X, Li X, Li Q. Advanced Mechanical Testing Technologies at the Cellular Level: The Mechanisms and Application in Tissue Engineering. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:3255. [PMID: 37571149 PMCID: PMC10422338 DOI: 10.3390/polym15153255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanics, as a key physical factor which affects cell function and tissue regeneration, is attracting the attention of researchers in the fields of biomaterials, biomechanics, and tissue engineering. The macroscopic mechanical properties of tissue engineering scaffolds have been studied and optimized based on different applications. However, the mechanical properties of the overall scaffold materials are not enough to reveal the mechanical mechanism of the cell-matrix interaction. Hence, the mechanical detection of cell mechanics and cellular-scale microenvironments has become crucial for unraveling the mechanisms which underly cell activities and which are affected by physical factors. This review mainly focuses on the advanced technologies and applications of cell-scale mechanical detection. It summarizes the techniques used in micromechanical performance analysis, including atomic force microscope (AFM), optical tweezer (OT), magnetic tweezer (MT), and traction force microscope (TFM), and analyzes their testing mechanisms. In addition, the application of mechanical testing techniques to cell mechanics and tissue engineering scaffolds, such as hydrogels and porous scaffolds, is summarized and discussed. Finally, it highlights the challenges and prospects of this field. This review is believed to provide valuable insights into micromechanics in tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxuan Zhu
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Mengqi Zhang
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Qingqing Sun
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xiaomeng Li
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Qian Li
- School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- National Center for International Joint Research of Micro-nano Moulding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
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38
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Fujita H, Kaneshiro J, Takeda M, Sasaki K, Yamamoto R, Umetsu D, Kuranaga E, Higo S, Kondo T, Asano Y, Sakata Y, Miyagawa S, Watanabe TM. Estimation of crossbridge-state during cardiomyocyte beating using second harmonic generation. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202302070. [PMID: 37236659 PMCID: PMC10215972 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Estimation of dynamic change of crossbridge formation in living cardiomyocytes is expected to provide crucial information for elucidating cardiomyopathy mechanisms, efficacy of an intervention, and others. Here, we established an assay system to dynamically measure second harmonic generation (SHG) anisotropy derived from myosin filaments depended on their crossbridge status in pulsating cardiomyocytes. Experiments utilizing an inheritable mutation that induces excessive myosin-actin interactions revealed that the correlation between sarcomere length and SHG anisotropy represents crossbridge formation ratio during pulsation. Furthermore, the present method found that ultraviolet irradiation induced an increased population of attached crossbridges that lost the force-generating ability upon myocardial differentiation. Taking an advantage of infrared two-photon excitation in SHG microscopy, myocardial dysfunction could be intravitally evaluated in a Drosophila disease model. Thus, we successfully demonstrated the applicability and effectiveness of the present method to evaluate the actomyosin activity of a drug or genetic defect on cardiomyocytes. Because genomic inspection alone may not catch the risk of cardiomyopathy in some cases, our study demonstrated herein would be of help in the risk assessment of future heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideaki Fujita
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Junichi Kaneshiro
- Laboratory for Comprehensive Bioimaging, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
| | - Maki Takeda
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kensuke Sasaki
- Laboratory for Comprehensive Bioimaging, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
| | - Rikako Yamamoto
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Daiki Umetsu
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Erina Kuranaga
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Shuichiro Higo
- Department of Medical Therapeutics for Heart Failure, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takumi Kondo
- Department of Medical Therapeutics for Heart Failure, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Asano
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yasushi Sakata
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shigeru Miyagawa
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tomonobu M Watanabe
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Laboratory for Comprehensive Bioimaging, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
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39
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Danielsson BE, George Abraham B, Mäntylä E, Cabe JI, Mayer CR, Rekonen A, Ek F, Conway DE, Ihalainen TO. Nuclear lamina strain states revealed by intermolecular force biosensor. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3867. [PMID: 37391402 PMCID: PMC10313699 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39563-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear lamins have been considered an important structural element of the nucleus. The nuclear lamina is thought both to shield DNA from excessive mechanical forces and to transmit mechanical forces onto the DNA. However, to date there is not yet a technical approach to directly measure mechanical forces on nuclear lamins at the protein level. To overcome this limitation, we developed a nanobody-based intermolecular tension FRET biosensor capable of measuring the mechanical strain of lamin filaments. Using this sensor, we were able to show that the nuclear lamina is subjected to significant force. These forces are dependent on nuclear volume, actomyosin contractility, functional LINC complex, chromatin condensation state, cell cycle, and EMT. Interestingly, large forces were also present on nucleoplasmic lamins, indicating that these lamins may also have an important mechanical role in the nucleus. Overall, we demonstrate that the nanobody-based approach allows construction of biosensors for complex protein structures for mechanobiology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke E Danielsson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Bobin George Abraham
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Elina Mäntylä
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jolene I Cabe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Carl R Mayer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Anna Rekonen
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Frans Ek
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Daniel E Conway
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
- The Ohio State University and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
| | - Teemu O Ihalainen
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
- Tampere Institute for Advanced Study, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
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40
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Sadhanasatish T, Augustin K, Windgasse L, Chrostek-Grashoff A, Rief M, Grashoff C. A molecular optomechanics approach reveals functional relevance of force transduction across talin and desmoplakin. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg3347. [PMID: 37343090 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg3347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Many mechanobiological processes that govern development and tissue homeostasis are regulated on the level of individual molecular linkages, and a number of proteins experiencing piconewton-scale forces in cells have been identified. However, under which conditions these force-bearing linkages become critical for a given mechanobiological process is often still unclear. Here, we established an approach to revealing the mechanical function of intracellular molecules using molecular optomechanics. When applied to the integrin activator talin, the technique provides direct evidence that its role as a mechanical linker is indispensable for the maintenance of cell-matrix adhesions and overall cell integrity. Applying the technique to desmoplakin shows that mechanical engagement of desmosomes to intermediate filaments is expendable under homeostatic conditions yet strictly required for preserving cell-cell adhesion under stress. These results reveal a central role of talin and desmoplakin as mechanical linkers in cell adhesion structures and demonstrate that molecular optomechanics is a powerful tool to investigate the molecular details of mechanobiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanmay Sadhanasatish
- University of Münster, Institute of Integrative Cell Biology and Physiology, Münster D-48149, Germany
| | - Katharina Augustin
- Center for Protein Assemblies and Department of Bioscience, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Lukas Windgasse
- University of Münster, Institute of Integrative Cell Biology and Physiology, Münster D-48149, Germany
| | - Anna Chrostek-Grashoff
- University of Münster, Institute of Integrative Cell Biology and Physiology, Münster D-48149, Germany
| | - Matthias Rief
- Center for Protein Assemblies and Department of Bioscience, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Carsten Grashoff
- University of Münster, Institute of Integrative Cell Biology and Physiology, Münster D-48149, Germany
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41
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Beussman KM, Mollica MY, Leonard A, Miles J, Hocter J, Song Z, Stolla M, Han SJ, Emery A, Thomas WE, Sniadecki NJ. Black dots: High-yield traction force microscopy reveals structural factors contributing to platelet forces. Acta Biomater 2023; 163:302-311. [PMID: 34781024 PMCID: PMC9098698 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Measuring the traction forces produced by cells provides insight into their behavior and physiological function. Here, we developed a technique (dubbed 'black dots') that microcontact prints a fluorescent micropattern onto a flexible substrate to measure cellular traction forces without constraining cell shape or needing to detach the cells. To demonstrate our technique, we assessed human platelets, which can generate a large range of forces within a population. We find platelets that exert more force have more spread area, are more circular, and have more uniformly distributed F-actin filaments. As a result of the high yield of data obtainable by this technique, we were able to evaluate multivariate mixed effects models with interaction terms and conduct a clustering analysis to identify clusters within our data. These statistical techniques demonstrated a complex relationship between spread area, circularity, F-actin dispersion, and platelet force, including cooperative effects that significantly associate with platelet traction forces. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Cells produce contractile forces during division, migration, or wound healing. Measuring cellular forces provides insight into their health, behavior, and function. We developed a technique that calculates cellular forces by seeding cells onto a pattern and quantifying how much each cell displaces the pattern. This technique is capable of measuring hundreds of cells without needing to detach them. Using this technique to evaluate human platelets, we find that platelets exerting more force tend to have more spread area, are more circular in shape, and have more uniformly distributed cytoskeletal filaments. Due to our high yield of data, we were able to apply statistical techniques that revealed combinatorial effects between these factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Beussman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Molly Y Mollica
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Andrea Leonard
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jeffrey Miles
- Bloodworks Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA
| | - John Hocter
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Zizhen Song
- School of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Moritz Stolla
- Bloodworks Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA; Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Sangyoon J Han
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States
| | - Ashley Emery
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Wendy E Thomas
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Nathan J Sniadecki
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Resuscitation Engineering Science Unit (RESCU), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.
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42
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Holland EN, Lobaccaro D, Fu J, García AJ. Impact of adhesive area on cellular traction force and spread area. J Biomed Mater Res A 2023; 111:609-617. [PMID: 36808220 PMCID: PMC10023502 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Cells integrate endogenous and exogenous mechanical forces to sense and respond to environmental signals. In particular, cell-generated microscale traction forces regulate cellular functions and impact macroscale tissue function and development. Many groups have developed tools for measuring cellular traction forces, including microfabricated post array detectors (mPADs). mPADs are a powerful tool that provides direct traction force measurements through imaging post deflections and utilizing Bernoulli-Euler beam theory. In this technical note, we investigated how mPADs presenting two different top surface areas but similar effective stiffness influence cellular spread area and traction forces for murine embryonic fibroblasts and human mesenchymal stromal cells. When focal adhesion size was restricted via mPAD top surface area, we observed a decrease in both cell spread area and cell traction forces as the mPAD top surface area decreased, but the traction force-cell area linear relationship was maintained, which is indicative of cell contractility. We conclude that the mPAD top surface area is an important parameter to consider when utilizing mPADs to measure cellular traction forces. Furthermore, the slope of the traction force-cell area linear relationship provides a useful metric to characterize cell contractility on mPADs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elijah N. Holland
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Deborah Lobaccaro
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Andrés J. García
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
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43
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Boquet-Pujadas A, Olivo-Marin JC. Reformulating Optical Flow to Solve Image-Based Inverse Problems and Quantify Uncertainty. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PATTERN ANALYSIS AND MACHINE INTELLIGENCE 2023; 45:6125-6141. [PMID: 36040935 DOI: 10.1109/tpami.2022.3202855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
From meteorology to medical imaging and cell mechanics, many scientific domains use inverse problems (IPs) to extract physical measurements from image movement. To this end, motion estimation methods such as optical flow (OF) pre-process images into motion data to feed the IP, which then inverts for the measurements through a physical model. However, this combined OFIP pipeline exacerbates the ill-posedness inherent to each technique, propagating errors and preventing uncertainty quantification. We introduce a Bayesian PDE-constrained framework that transforms visual information directly into physical measurements in the context of probability distributions. The posterior mean is a constrained IP that tracks brightness while satisfying the physical model, thereby translating the aperture problem from the motion to the underlying physics; whereas the posterior covariance derives measurement error out of image noise. As we illustrate with traction force microscopy, our approach offers several advantages: more accurate reconstructions; unprecedented flexibility in experiment design (e.g., arbitrary boundary conditions); and the exclusivity of measurement error, central to empirical science, yet still unavailable under the OFIP strategy.
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44
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Chen YC, Li Y, Yan CCS, Hsu CP, Cheng PL, Tu HL. DNA tension assays reveal that force-dependent integrin activation regulates neurite outgrowth in primary cortical neurons. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 150:213431. [PMID: 37116456 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Biomechanical inputs are ubiquitously present in biological systems and are known to regulate various cell functions. In particular, neural cell development is sensitive to mechanical regulation, as these cells reside in one of the softest microenvironments in the body. To fully characterize and comprehend how mechanical force modulates early neuronal processes, we prepared substrates functionalized with DNA probes displaying integrin ligands, including cRGD and laminin, to quantify integrin-mediated molecular tension during neurite initiation in primary cortical neurons. Our live-cell imaging analysis reveals that integrin-mediated tension force is highly dynamic and distributed across the cell body, with the overall tension signal gradually increasing during neurite outgrowth. Notably, we detected a consistent level of mechanical force (amplitude = 4.7-12 piconewtons, pN) for cell integrin-ligand interactions. Further quantifications reveal that neurons exhibit faster cell spreading and neurite outgrowth upon interacting with ligands functionalized with 4.7 pN relative to 12 pN probes. These findings indicate that the magnitude of integrin-mediated mechanical feedback regulates neuronal activity during early neuritogenesis. Additionally, we observed that mechanical tension is correlated with calcium signaling, since inhibiting calcium influx substantially reduced mechanical tension. Thus, our findings support that the magnitude of integrin-mediated mechanical feedback regulates neuronal activity during early neuritogenesis and that mechanical force is an essential element complementing well-known biochemical regulatory mechanisms orchestrating the integrin activation machinery and controlled neurite outgrowth in cortical neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Chi Chen
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Ying Li
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
| | | | - Chao-Ping Hsu
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Lin Cheng
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
| | - Hsiung-Lin Tu
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
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45
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Chala N, Zhang X, Zambelli T, Zhang Z, Schneider T, Panozzo D, Poulikakos D, Ferrari A. 4D Force Detection of Cell Adhesion and Contractility. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:2467-2475. [PMID: 36975035 PMCID: PMC10103301 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c03733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical signals establish two-way communication between mammalian cells and their environment. Cells contacting a surface exert forces via contractility and transmit them at the areas of focal adhesions. External stimuli, such as compressive and pulling forces, typically affect the adhesion-free cell surface. Here, we demonstrate the collaborative employment of Fluidic Force Microscopy and confocal Traction Force Microscopy supported by the Cellogram solver to enable a powerful integrated force probing approach, where controlled vertical forces are applied to the free surface of individual cells, while the concomitant deformations are used to map their transmission to the substrate. Force transmission across human cells is measured with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution, enabling the investigation of the cellular mechanisms involved in the adaptation, or maladaptation, to external mechanical stimuli. Altogether, the system enables facile and precise force interrogation of individual cells, with the capacity to perform population-based analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafsika Chala
- Laboratory
of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical
and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Laboratory
of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Gloriastrasse 35, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Tomaso Zambelli
- Laboratory
of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Gloriastrasse 35, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Ziyi Zhang
- Courant
Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New
York University, 5th Avenue 60, New York, New York 10011, United
States
| | - Teseo Schneider
- Department
of Computer Science, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Engineering
& Computer Science Building, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Daniele Panozzo
- Courant
Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New
York University, 5th Avenue 60, New York, New York 10011, United
States
| | - Dimos Poulikakos
- Laboratory
of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical
and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aldo Ferrari
- Laboratory
of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical
and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Experimental
Continuum Mechanics, EMPA, Swiss Federal
Laboratories for Material Science and Technologies, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Institute
for Mechanical Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Leonhardstrasse 21, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
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46
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Nishizawa K, Lin SZ, Chardès C, Rupprecht JF, Lenne PF. Two-point optical manipulation reveals mechanosensitive remodeling of cell-cell contacts in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2212389120. [PMID: 36947511 PMCID: PMC10068846 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2212389120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological tissues acquire reproducible shapes during development through dynamic cell behaviors. Most of these behaviors involve the remodeling of cell-cell contacts. During epithelial morphogenesis, contractile actomyosin networks remodel cell-cell contacts by shrinking and extending junctions between lateral cell surfaces. However, actomyosin networks not only generate mechanical stresses but also respond to them, confounding our understanding of how mechanical stresses remodel cell-cell contacts. Here, we develop a two-point optical manipulation method to impose different stress patterns on cell-cell contacts in the early epithelium of the Drosophila embryo. The technique allows us to produce junction extension and shrinkage through different push and pull manipulations at the edges of junctions. We use these observations to expand classical vertex-based models of tissue mechanics, incorporating negative and positive mechanosensitive feedback depending on the type of remodeling. In particular, we show that Myosin-II activity responds to junction strain rate and facilitates full junction shrinkage. Altogether our work provides insight into how stress produces efficient deformation of cell-cell contacts in vivo and identifies unanticipated mechanosensitive features of their remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Nishizawa
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living systems, Marseille UMR 7288, France
| | - Shao-Zhen Lin
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, CPT, Turing Centre for Living systems, Marseille UMR 7332, France
| | - Claire Chardès
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living systems, Marseille UMR 7288, France
| | - Jean-François Rupprecht
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, CPT, Turing Centre for Living systems, Marseille UMR 7332, France
| | - Pierre-François Lenne
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living systems, Marseille UMR 7288, France
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47
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Blatchley MR, Anseth KS. Middle-out methods for spatiotemporal tissue engineering of organoids. NATURE REVIEWS BIOENGINEERING 2023; 1:329-345. [PMID: 37168734 PMCID: PMC10010248 DOI: 10.1038/s44222-023-00039-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Organoids recapitulate many aspects of the complex three-dimensional (3D) organization found within native tissues and even display tissue and organ-level functionality. Traditional approaches to organoid culture have largely employed a top-down tissue engineering strategy, whereby cells are encapsulated in a 3D matrix, such as Matrigel, alongside well-defined biochemical cues that direct morphogenesis. However, the lack of spatiotemporal control over niche properties renders cellular processes largely stochastic. Therefore, bottom-up tissue engineering approaches have evolved to address some of these limitations and focus on strategies to assemble tissue building blocks with defined multi-scale spatial organization. However, bottom-up design reduces the capacity for self-organization that underpins organoid morphogenesis. Here, we introduce an emerging framework, which we term middle-out strategies, that relies on existing design principles and combines top-down design of defined synthetic matrices that support proliferation and self-organization with bottom-up modular engineered intervention to limit the degrees of freedom in the dynamic process of organoid morphogenesis. We posit that this strategy will provide key advances to guide the growth of organoids with precise geometries, structures and function, thereby facilitating an unprecedented level of biomimicry to accelerate the utility of organoids to more translationally relevant applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R. Blatchley
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO USA
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO USA
| | - Kristi S. Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO USA
- The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO USA
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48
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Xue S, Xu Q, Xu Z, Zhang X, Zhang H, Zhang X, He F, Chen Y, Xue Y, Hao P. Manipulation of Particle/Cell Based on Compressibility in a Divergent Microchannel by Surface Acoustic Wave. Anal Chem 2023; 95:4282-4290. [PMID: 36815437 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The mechanical properties (compressibility or deformability) of cells are closely related to their death, migration, and differentiation. Accurate separation and manipulation of bioparticles based on these mechanical properties are still a challenging in the field of acoustofluidics. In this work, based on surface acoustic waves (SAW) and divergent microchannels, we developed a new method for separating and detecting particles or cells with different compressibility. The difference in acoustic radiation force (Fr) caused by compressibility are gradually amplified and accumulated by decreasing the flow velocity, and they are finally reflected in the particle migration distance. During the transverse migration process, the alternating dominance of the acoustic radiation force and the Stokes resistance force (Fs) drives the particles to create three typical migration patterns: intermittent migration, compound migration, and near-wall migration. In the present tilted SAW device, a 91% separation success rate of ∼10 μm polystyrene (PS) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) particles can be achieved by optimizing the acoustic field input power and the fluid velocity. The application potential of the present divergent microchannel is validated by separating the myelogenous leukemia cell K562 and the natural killer cell NK92 that have similar densities and sizes (∼15 μm) but different compressibility. The results of this work are expected to provide valuable insights into the acoustofluidics separation and detection of the cells that are with different compressibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Xue
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Qingmei Xu
- School of Integrated Circuits, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zhike Xu
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xuanhe Zhang
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Haixiang Zhang
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xiwen Zhang
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Feng He
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yiqing Chen
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yu Xue
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Pengfei Hao
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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49
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Mechanotransduction in tumor dynamics modeling. Phys Life Rev 2023; 44:279-301. [PMID: 36841159 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2023.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Mechanotherapy is a groundbreaking approach to impact carcinogenesis. Cells sense and respond to mechanical stimuli, translating them into biochemical signals in a process known as mechanotransduction. The impact of stress on tumor growth has been studied in the last three decades, and many papers highlight the role of mechanics as a critical self-inducer of tumor fate at the in vitro and in vivo biological levels. Meanwhile, mathematical models attempt to determine laws to reproduce tumor dynamics. This review discusses biological mechanotransduction mechanisms and mathematical-biomechanical models together. The aim is to provide a common framework for the different approaches that have emerged in the literature from the perspective of tumor avascularity and to provide insight into emerging mechanotherapies that have attracted interest in recent years.
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50
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Liu J, Le S, Yao M, Huang W, Tio Z, Zhou Y, Yan J. Tension Gauge Tethers as Tension Threshold and Duration Sensors. ACS Sens 2023; 8:704-711. [PMID: 36731861 PMCID: PMC9973368 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c02218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Mechanotransduction, the process by which cells respond to tension transmitted through various supramolecular linkages, is important for understanding cellular behavior. Tension gauge tethers (TGTs), short fragments of double-stranded DNA that irreversibly break under shear-stretch conditions, have been used in live cell experiments to study mechanotransduction. However, our current understanding of TGTs' mechanical responses is limited, which limits the information that can be gleaned from experimental observations. In this study, we quantified the tension-dependent lifetime of TGTs to better understand their mechanical stability under various physiologically relevant stretching conditions. This work has broad applications for using TGTs as tension threshold and duration sensors and also suggests the need to revisit previous interpretations of experimental observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingzhun Liu
- Mechanobiology
Institute, National University of Singapore, 117411Singapore
| | - Shimin Le
- Department
of Physics, Xiamen University, Xiamen361005, People’s Repbulic of China
| | - Mingxi Yao
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University
of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, People’s Repbulic of China
| | - Wenmao Huang
- Department
of Physics, National University of Singapore, 117546Singapore
| | - Zhikai Tio
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117585Singapore
| | - Yu Zhou
- Mechanobiology
Institute, National University of Singapore, 117411Singapore
| | - Jie Yan
- Mechanobiology
Institute, National University of Singapore, 117411Singapore
- Department
of Physics, National University of Singapore, 117546Singapore
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