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Li X, Feng R, Guo Z, Meng Y, Zou Y, Liao W, Peng Q, Zhong H, Zhao W. Direct investigations of the effects of nicardipine on calcium channels of astrocytes by Atomic Force Microscopy. Talanta 2024; 274:125947. [PMID: 38537353 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.125947] [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: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Calcium channel blockers (CCB) of astrocytes can blockade the calcium ions entry through the voltage gated calcium channels (VGCC), and is widely used in the diseases related with VGCC of astrocytes. But many aspects of the interaction mechanisms between the CCB and VGCC of astrocytes still remain unclear due to the limited resolution of the approaches. Herein the effects of the nicardipine (a type of CCB) on VGCC of astrocytes were investigated at very high spatial, force and electrical resolution by multiple modes of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) directly. The results reveal that after the addition of nicardipine, the recognition signals of VGCC disappeared; the specific unbinding forces vanished; the conductivity of the astrocytes decreased (the current decreased about 2.9 pA and the capacitance was doubled); the surface potential of the astrocytes reduced about 14.2 mV. The results of electrical properties investigations are consistent with the simulation experiments. The relations between these biophysical and biochemical properties of VGCC have been discussed. All these demonstrate that the interactions between nicardipine and VGCC have been studied at nanometer spatial resolution, at picoNewton force resolution and very high electrical signal resolution (pA in current, pF in capacitance and 0.1 mV in surface potential) level. The approaches are considered to be high resolution and high sensitivity, and will be helpful and useful in the further investigations of the effects of other types of CCB on ion channels, and will also be helpful in the investigations of mechanisms and therapy of ion channelopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Rongrong Feng
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zeling Guo
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Meng
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yulan Zou
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenchao Liao
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianwei Peng
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Haijian Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Weidong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, People's Republic of China.
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Guo Z, Meng Y, Zhou S, Li J, Li X, Feng R, Zou Y, Liao W, Wu W, Xu M, Zeng X, Zhao W, Zhong H. Atomic force microscopy correlates mechanical and electrical properties of HepG2 cells with curcumin concentration. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 243:116107. [PMID: 38489959 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2024.116107] [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: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly prevalent cancer with a significant impact on human health. Curcumin, a natural compound, induces cytoskeletal changes in liver cancer cells and modifies the distribution of lipids, proteins, and polysaccharides on plasma membranes, affecting their mechanical and electrical properties. In this study, we used nanomechanical indentation techniques and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate the changes in surface nanomechanical and electrical properties of nuclear and cytoplasmic regions of HepG2 cells in response to increasing curcumin concentrations. CCK-8 assays and flow cytometry results demonstrated time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of HepG2 cell proliferation by curcumin. Increasing curcumin concentration led to an initial increase and then decrease in the mechanical properties of nuclear and cytoplasmic regions of HepG2 cells, represented by the Young's modulus (E), as observed through nanoindentation. KPFM measurements indicated decreasing trends in both cell surface potential and height. Fluorescence microscopy results indicated a positive correlation between curcumin concentration and phosphatidylserine translocation from the inner to the outer membrane, which influenced the electrical properties of HepG2 cells. This study provides valuable insights into curcumin's mechanisms against cancer cells and aids nanoscale evaluation of therapeutic efficacy and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeling Guo
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Meng
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiangting Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Rongrong Feng
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yulan Zou
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenchao Liao
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiting Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingjing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangfu Zeng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Weidong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Haijian Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, People's Republic of China.
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Huynh PK, Nguyen D, Binder G, Ambardar S, Le TQ, Voronine DV. Multifractality in Surface Potential for Cancer Diagnosis. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:6867-6877. [PMID: 37525377 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c01733] [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: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in high-resolution biomedical imaging have improved cancer diagnosis, focusing on morphological, electrical, and biochemical properties of cells and tissues, scaling from cell clusters down to the molecular level. Multiscale imaging revealed high complexity that requires advanced data processing methods of multifractal analysis. We performed label-free multiscale imaging of surface potential variations in human ovarian cancer cells using Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). An improvement in the differentiation between nonmalignant and cancerous cells by multifractal analysis using adaptive versus median threshold for image binarization was demonstrated. The results reveal the multifractality of cancer cells as a new biomarker for cancer diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phat K Huynh
- Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Dang Nguyen
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Grace Binder
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Sharad Ambardar
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Trung Q Le
- Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Dmitri V Voronine
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
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Zhang Z, Meng C, Hou K, Wang Z, Huang Y, Lü X. The cytological and electrophysiological effects of silver nanoparticles on neuron-like PC12 cells. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277942. [PMID: 36512588 PMCID: PMC9746933 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the toxic effects and mechanism of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) on the cytological and electrophysiological properties of rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Different concentrations of SNPs (20 nm) were prepared, and the effects of different application durations on the cell viability and electrical excitability of PC12 quasi-neuronal networks were investigated. The effects of 200 μM SNPs on the neurite length, cell membrane potential (CMP) difference, intracellular Ca2+ content, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) difference, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content of networks were then investigated. The results showed that 200 μM SNPs produced grade 1 cytotoxicity at 48 h of interaction, and the other concentrations of SNPs were noncytotoxic. Noncytotoxic 5 μM SNPs significantly increased electrical excitability, and noncytotoxic 100 μM SNPs led to an initial increase followed by a significant decrease in electrical excitability. Cytotoxic SNPs (200 μM) significantly decreased electrical excitability. SNPs (200 μM) led to decreases in neurite length, MMP difference and ATP content and increases in CMP difference and intracellular Ca2+ and ROS levels. The results revealed that not only cell viability but also electrophysiological properties should be considered when evaluating nanoparticle-induced neurotoxicity. The SNP-induced cytotoxicity mainly originated from its effects on ATP content, cytoskeletal structure and ROS content. The decrease in electrical excitability was mainly due to the decrease in ATP content. ATP content may thus be an important indicator of both cell viability and electrical excitability in PC12 quasi-neuronal networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zequn Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Chen Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Kun Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhigong Wang
- Institute of RF- & OE-ICs, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- Coinnovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
- * E-mail: (ZW); (YH); (XL)
| | - Yan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- * E-mail: (ZW); (YH); (XL)
| | - Xiaoying Lü
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- Coinnovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
- * E-mail: (ZW); (YH); (XL)
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5
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Influence of P(VDF-TrFE) Membranes with Different Surface Potentials on the Activity and Angiogenic Function of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:5693994. [PMID: 36199755 PMCID: PMC9529516 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5693994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
During bone tissue regeneration, neovascularization is critical, and the formation of a blood supply network is crucial for bone growth stimulation and remodeling. Previous studies suggest that bioelectric signals facilitate the process of angiogenesis. Owing to their biomimetic electroactivity, piezoelectric membranes have garnered substantial interest in the field of guided bone regeneration. Nevertheless, the knowledge of their influence due to varying surface potentials on the progression of angiogenesis remains ambiguous. Therefore, we proposed the preparation of an electroactive material, P(VDF-TrFE), and investigated its effects on the activity and angiogenic functions of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The HUVECs were directly cultured on P(VDF-TrFE) membranes with different surface potentials. Subsequently, cell viability, proliferation, migration, tube formation, and expressions of related factors were assessed through appropriate assays. Our results revealed that the negative surface potential groups exerted differential effects on the modulation of angiogenesis in vitro. The P(VDF-TrFE) membranes with negative surface potential exhibited the greatest effect on cellular behaviors, including proliferation, migration, tube formation, and promotion of angiogenesis by releasing key factors such as VEGF-A and CD31. Overall, these results indicated that the surface potential of piezoelectric P(VDF-TrFE) membranes could exert differential effects on angiogenesis in vitro. We present a novel approach for designing bioactive materials for guided bone regeneration.
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Geng J, Zhang H, Meng X, Gao H, Rong W, Xie H. Three-Dimensional Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:32719-32728. [PMID: 35816692 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c07645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Traditional Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) is mainly limited to the characterization of two-dimensional (2D) surfaces, and in situ surface potential (SP) imaging along 3D device surfaces remains a challenge. This paper presents a multimode 3D-KPFM based on an orthogonal cantilever probe (OCP) that can achieve SP mapping of 3D micronano structures. It integrates three working modes: a bending mode for 2D horizontal surface imaging, a torsion mode for vertical sidewall imaging, and a vector tracking-based 3D scanning mode. The customized OCP has a nanoscale tip protruding from the side and underside of the cantilever, rather than the front, and the extended tip makes the proposed approach universally applicable for 3D detection from the nanometer to micrometer scale. The spatial resolution of the proposed method is analyzed by simulation, which shows it can reduce the cantilever homogenization effect. Linearity and energy resolution measurements show that the proposed method has comparable performance to traditional methods. A comparative experiment using a gold-silicon interface verifies the accuracy of the reported method in its bending and torsion modes. Further, the imaging ability of the 3D scanning mode is confirmed in the 3D characterization of a step grating. This technique is applied to the in situ characterization of a microforce sensor with microcomb structures. The experiment results show that this method can excellently achieve the 3D quantitative characterization of topography and SP, including critical dimensions and SP along a 3D device surface. This novel 3D-KPFM technique has many potential applications in the further exploration of 3D micronano devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyuan Geng
- The State key Laboratory of Robotics and Systems, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, P. R. China
| | - Hao Zhang
- The State key Laboratory of Robotics and Systems, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, P. R. China
| | - Xianghe Meng
- The State key Laboratory of Robotics and Systems, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, P. R. China
| | - Haibo Gao
- The State key Laboratory of Robotics and Systems, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, P. R. China
| | - Weibin Rong
- The State key Laboratory of Robotics and Systems, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, P. R. China
| | - Hui Xie
- The State key Laboratory of Robotics and Systems, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, P. R. China
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Chen F, He J, Manandhar P, Yang Y, Liu P, Gu N. Gauging surface charge distribution of live cell membrane by ionic current change using scanning ion conductance microscopy. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:19973-19984. [PMID: 34825684 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr05230f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The distribution of surface charge and potential of cell membrane plays an indispensable role in cellular activities. However, probing surface charge of live cells under physiological conditions, until recently, remains an arduous challenge owing to the lack of effective methods. Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) is an emerging imaging technique for imaging a live cell membrane in its native state. Here, we introduce a simple SICM based imaging technique to effectively map the surface charge contrast distribution of soft substrates including cell membranes by utilizing the higher surface charge sensitivity of the ionic current when the nanopipette tip is close to the substrate with a relatively high current change. This technique was assessed on charged model substrates made of polydimethylsiloxane, and the surface charge sensitivity of ionic current change was supported by finite element method simulations. With this method, we can distinguish the surface charge difference between the cell membrane and the supporting collagen matrix. We also observed the surface charge change induced by the small membrane damage after 1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment. This new SICM technique provides opportunities to study interfacial and cell membrane processes with high spatial resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Chen
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, People's Republic of China
- Physics Department, Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
| | - Jin He
- Physics Department, Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
| | - Prakash Manandhar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Yizi Yang
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, People's Republic of China
| | - Peidang Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Ning Gu
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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Jakob DS, Li N, Zhou H, Xu XG. Integrated Tapping Mode Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy with Photoinduced Force Microscopy for Correlative Chemical and Surface Potential Mapping. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2102495. [PMID: 34310045 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202102495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) is a popular technique for mapping the surface potential at the nanoscale through measurement of the Coulombic force between an atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip and sample. The lateral resolution of conventional KPFM variants is limited to between ≈35 and 100 nm in ambient conditions due to the long-range nature of the Coulombic force. In this article, a novel way of generating the Coulombic force in tapping mode KPFM without the need for an external AC driving voltage is presented. A field-effect transistor (FET) is used to directly switch the electrical connectivity of the tip and sample on and off periodically. The resulting Coulomb force induced by Fermi level alignment of the tip and sample results in a detectable change of the cantilever oscillation at the FET-switching frequency. The resulting FET-switched KPFM delivers a spatial resolution of ≈25 nm and inherits the high operational speed of the AFM tapping mode. Moreover, the FET-switched KPFM is integrated with photoinduced force microscopy (PiFM), enabling simultaneous acquisitions of high spatial resolution chemical distributions and surface potential maps. The integrated FET-switched KPFM with PiFM is expected to facilitate characterizations of nanoscale electrical properties of photoactive materials, semiconductors, and ferroelectric materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon S Jakob
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA
| | - Nengxu Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Huanping Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xiaoji G Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA
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Checa M, Millan-Solsona R, Mares AG, Pujals S, Gomila G. Fast Label-Free Nanoscale Composition Mapping of Eukaryotic Cells Via Scanning Dielectric Force Volume Microscopy and Machine Learning. SMALL METHODS 2021; 5:e2100279. [PMID: 34928004 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202100279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mapping the biochemical composition of eukaryotic cells without the use of exogenous labels is a long-sought objective in cell biology. Recently, it has been shown that composition maps on dry single bacterial cells with nanoscale spatial resolution can be inferred from quantitative nanoscale dielectric constant maps obtained with the scanning dielectric microscope. Here, it is shown that this approach can also be applied to the much more challenging case of fixed and dry eukaryotic cells, which are highly heterogeneous and show micrometric topographic variations. More importantly, it is demonstrated that the main bottleneck of the technique (the long computation times required to extract the nanoscale dielectric constant maps) can be shortcut by using supervised neural networks, decreasing them from weeks to seconds in a wokstation computer. This easy-to-use data-driven approach opens the door for in situ and on-the-fly label free nanoscale composition mapping of eukaryotic cells with scanning dielectric microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martí Checa
- Nanoscale Bioelectrical Characterization Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Carrer Baldiri i Reixac 11-15, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Ruben Millan-Solsona
- Nanoscale Bioelectrical Characterization Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Carrer Baldiri i Reixac 11-15, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Departament d'Enginyeria Electrònica i Biomèdica, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer Martí i Franquès 1, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Adrianna Glinkowska Mares
- Nanoscopy for Nanomedicine Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Carrer Baldiri i Reixac 11-15, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Silvia Pujals
- Departament d'Enginyeria Electrònica i Biomèdica, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer Martí i Franquès 1, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Nanoscopy for Nanomedicine Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Carrer Baldiri i Reixac 11-15, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Gabriel Gomila
- Nanoscale Bioelectrical Characterization Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Carrer Baldiri i Reixac 11-15, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Departament d'Enginyeria Electrònica i Biomèdica, Universitat de Barcelona, Carrer Martí i Franquès 1, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
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Eftekhari BS, Eskandari M, Janmey PA, Samadikuchaksaraei A, Gholipourmalekabadi M. Conductive chitosan/polyaniline hydrogel with cell-imprinted topography as a potential substrate for neural priming of adipose derived stem cells. RSC Adv 2021; 11:15795-15807. [PMID: 35481217 PMCID: PMC9029165 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra00413a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Biophysical characteristics of engineered scaffolds such as topography and electroconductivity have shown potentially beneficial effects on stem cell morphology, proliferation, and differentiation toward neural cells. In this study, we fabricated a conductive hydrogel made from chitosan (CS) and polyaniline (PANI) with induced PC12 cell surface topography using a cell imprinting technique to provide both topographical properties and conductivity in a platform. The engineered hydrogel's potential for neural priming of rat adipose-derived stem cells (rADSCs) was determined in vitro. The biomechanical analysis revealed that the electrical conductivity, stiffness, and hydrophobicity of flat (F) and cell-imprinted (CI) substrates increased with increased PANI content in the CS/PANI scaffold. The conductive substrates exhibited a lower degradation rate compared to non-conductive substrates. According to data obtained from F-actin staining and AFM micrographs, both CI(CS) and CI(CS-PANI) substrates induced the morphology of rADSCs from their irregular shape (on flat substrates) into the elongated and bipolar shape of the neuronal-like PC12 cells. Immunostaining analysis revealed that both CI(CS) and CI (CS-PANI) significantly upregulated the expression of GFAP and MAP2, two neural precursor-specific genes, in rADSCs compared with flat substrates. Although the results reveal that both cell-imprinted topography and electrical conductivity affect the neural lineage differentiation, some data demonstrate that the topography effects of the cell-imprinted surface have a more critical role than electrical conductivity on neural priming of ADSCs. The current study provides new insight into the engineering of scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnaz Sadat Eftekhari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology 424 Hafez Ave Tehran 15875-4413 Iran +98 21 6454 23 62.,Department of Physiology, Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania 1010 Vagelos Research Laboratories, 3340 Smith Walk Philadelphia PA 19104-6383 USA +1 215 573 6815 +1 215 573 7380
| | - Mahnaz Eskandari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology 424 Hafez Ave Tehran 15875-4413 Iran +98 21 6454 23 62
| | - Paul A Janmey
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania 1010 Vagelos Research Laboratories, 3340 Smith Walk Philadelphia PA 19104-6383 USA +1 215 573 6815 +1 215 573 7380
| | | | - Mazaher Gholipourmalekabadi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran.,Cellular and Molecular Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran.,Department of Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
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11
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Chlanda A, Walejewska E, Kowiorski K, Heljak M, Swieszkowski W, Lipińska L. Investigation into morphological and electromechanical surface properties of reduced-graphene-oxide-loaded composite fibers for bone tissue engineering applications: A comprehensive nanoscale study using atomic force microscopy approach. Micron 2021; 146:103072. [PMID: 33895487 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2021.103072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We decided to implement an extensive atomic force microscopy study in order to get deeper understanding of surface-related nanoscale properties of 3D printed pristine polycaprolactone and its reduced-graphene-oxide-loaded composites. The study included surface visualization and roughness quantification, elastic modulus and adhesion force assessment with force spectroscopy, along with kelvin probe force microscopy evaluation of local changes of surface potential. Atomic force microscopy examination was followed by scanning electron microscopy visualization and wettability assessment. Moreover, systematic examination of reduced graphene oxide flakes fabricated exclusively for this study was performed, including: scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and combustion elemental analysis. The addition of reduced graphene oxide resulted in thickening of the composite fibers and surface roughness enhancement. In addition, elastic modulus of composite fibers was higher and at the same time adhesion forces between scanning probe and tested surface was lower than for pristine polymeric ones. Lastly, we recorded local (nanoscale) alterations of surface potential of fibers with addition of graphene-derivative. The results clearly suggest graphene derivative's dose-dependent alteration of elastic modulus and adhesion force recorded with atomic force microscope. Moreover, changes of the material's surface properties were followed by changes of its electrical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Chlanda
- Łukasiewicz Research Network, Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics, Department of Chemical Synthesis and Flake Graphene, Aleja Lotników 32/46, 02-668, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Ewa Walejewska
- Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Biomaterials Group, Wołoska 141, 02-507, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krystian Kowiorski
- Łukasiewicz Research Network, Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics, Department of Chemical Synthesis and Flake Graphene, Aleja Lotników 32/46, 02-668, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcin Heljak
- Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Biomaterials Group, Wołoska 141, 02-507, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Swieszkowski
- Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Biomaterials Group, Wołoska 141, 02-507, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ludwika Lipińska
- Łukasiewicz Research Network, Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics, Department of Chemical Synthesis and Flake Graphene, Aleja Lotników 32/46, 02-668, Warsaw, Poland
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12
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Zaszczynska A, Sajkiewicz P, Gradys A. Piezoelectric Scaffolds as Smart Materials for Neural Tissue Engineering. Polymers (Basel) 2020; 12:E161. [PMID: 31936240 PMCID: PMC7022784 DOI: 10.3390/polym12010161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Injury to the central or peripheral nervous systems leads to the loss of cognitive and/or sensorimotor capabilities, which still lacks an effective treatment. Tissue engineering in the post-injury brain represents a promising option for cellular replacement and rescue, providing a cell scaffold for either transplanted or resident cells. Tissue engineering relies on scaffolds for supporting cell differentiation and growth with recent emphasis on stimuli responsive scaffolds, sometimes called smart scaffolds. One of the representatives of this material group is piezoelectric scaffolds, being able to generate electrical charges under mechanical stimulation, which creates a real prospect for using such scaffolds in non-invasive therapy of neural tissue. This paper summarizes the recent knowledge on piezoelectric materials used for tissue engineering, especially neural tissue engineering. The most used materials for tissue engineering strategies are reported together with the main achievements, challenges, and future needs for research and actual therapies. This review provides thus a compilation of the most relevant results and strategies and serves as a starting point for novel research pathways in the most relevant and challenging open questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelika Zaszczynska
- Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5b St., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paweł Sajkiewicz
- Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5b St., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Arkadiusz Gradys
- Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5b St., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
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13
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Zhao W, Cheong LZ, Xu S, Cui W, Song S, Rourk CJ, Shen C. Direct investigation of current transport in cells by conductive atomic force microscopy. J Microsc 2019; 277:49-57. [PMID: 31883281 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.12861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Currents play critical roles in neurons. Direct observation of current flows in cells at nanometre dimensions and picoampere current resolution is still a daunting task. In this study, we investigated the current flows in hippocampal neurons, PC12 cells and astrocytes in response to voltages applied to the cell membranes using conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM). The spines in the hippocampal neurons play crucial roles in nerve signal transfer. When the applied voltage was greater than 7.2 V, PC12 cells even show metallic nanowire-like characteristics. Both the cell body and glial filaments of astrocytes yielded CAFM test results that reflect different electrical conductance. To our best knowledge, the electrical characteristics and current transport through components of cells (especially neurons) in response to an applied external voltage have been revealed for the first time at nanometre dimensions and picoampere current levels. We believe that such studies will pave new ways to study and model the electrical characteristics and physiological behaviours in cells and other biological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Zhao
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.,School of Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - L-Z Cheong
- College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - S Xu
- Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioural Neuroscience, Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - W Cui
- Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioural Neuroscience, Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - S Song
- National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - C J Rourk
- 4512 Beverly Drive, 75205, Dallas, TX, U.S.A
| | - C Shen
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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14
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Checa M, Millan-Solsona R, Blanco N, Torrents E, Fabregas R, Gomila G. Mapping the dielectric constant of a single bacterial cell at the nanoscale with scanning dielectric force volume microscopy. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:20809-20819. [PMID: 31657419 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr07659j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mapping the dielectric constant at the nanoscale of samples showing a complex topography, such as non-planar nanocomposite materials or single cells, poses formidable challenges to existing nanoscale dielectric microscopy techniques. Here we overcome these limitations by introducing Scanning Dielectric Force Volume Microscopy. This scanning probe microscopy technique is based on the acquisition of electrostatic force approach curves at every point of a sample and its post-processing and quantification by using a computational model that incorporates the actual measured sample topography. The technique provides quantitative nanoscale images of the local dielectric constant of the sample with unparalleled accuracy, spatial resolution and statistical significance, irrespectively of the complexity of its topography. We illustrate the potential of the technique by presenting a nanoscale dielectric constant map of a single bacterial cell, including its small-scale appendages. The bacterial cell shows three characteristic equivalent dielectric constant values, namely, εr,bac1 = 2.6 ± 0.2, εr,bac2 = 3.6 ± 0.4 and εr,bac3 = 4.9 ± 0.5, which enable identifying different dielectric properties of the cell wall and of the cytoplasmatic region, as well as, the existence of variations in the dielectric constant along the bacterial cell wall itself. Scanning Dielectric Force Volume Microscopy is expected to have an important impact in Materials and Life Sciences where the mapping of the dielectric properties of samples showing complex nanoscale topographies is often needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martí Checa
- Nanoscale Bioelectrical Characterization, Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, c/Baldiri i Reixac 11-15, 08028, Barcelona, Spain. and Departament d'Enginyeria Electrònica i Biomèdica, Universitat de Barcelona, c/Martí i Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ruben Millan-Solsona
- Nanoscale Bioelectrical Characterization, Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, c/Baldiri i Reixac 11-15, 08028, Barcelona, Spain. and Departament d'Enginyeria Electrònica i Biomèdica, Universitat de Barcelona, c/Martí i Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Blanco
- Bacterial Infections: Antimicrobial Therapies, Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, c/Baldiri i Reixac 11-15, 08028, Barcelona
| | - Eduard Torrents
- Bacterial Infections: Antimicrobial Therapies, Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, c/Baldiri i Reixac 11-15, 08028, Barcelona
| | - Rene Fabregas
- Departament d'Enginyeria Electrònica i Biomèdica, Universitat de Barcelona, c/Martí i Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gabriel Gomila
- Nanoscale Bioelectrical Characterization, Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, c/Baldiri i Reixac 11-15, 08028, Barcelona, Spain. and Departament d'Enginyeria Electrònica i Biomèdica, Universitat de Barcelona, c/Martí i Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
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15
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Zhao W, Cheong LZ, Cui W, Xu S, Shen C. A case study of the electrical properties of astrocytes by multimode AFM. J Microsc 2019; 275:75-81. [PMID: 31074501 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.12804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes play an important role in the physiological functions of the central nervous system. In this study, contact potential differences (CPD) and capacitance gradients of the cell bodies and glial filaments of astrocytes were measured. Charge propagation properties in the astrocyte gap junctions were also studied using multimode Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) at nanometre resolution. The CPD of the cell bodies and glial filaments were 324.2 ± 138.4 and 119.1 ± 31.7 mV, respectively. The measured capacitance gradients were 1.51 ± 0.31 and 1.98 ± 0.32 zF nm-1 , respectively. The gap junctions in the astrocytes showed no charge propagation and were not electrically sensitive. This furthers our understanding of astrocytes and other types of neuroglia. LAY DESCRIPTION: Neuroglia cells play important structural and functional roles in central nervous system (CNS). Neuroglia cells exceed the number of neurons by 10∼50 and can be divided into macroglia and microglia. Astrocytes are macroglia and are the largest and most abundant cells in the CNS. Astrocytes lack axons and dendrites and do not propagate action potentials. They have few cytoplasmic organelles, but possess abundant glial filaments, the main components of the cytoskeleton. Glial filaments are composed of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Astrocytes produce intercellular calcium waves in their gap junctions mediated through receptor activator (such as glutamate) to permit signal transduction._ENREF_5 In addition to their role in the support and nutrition of neurons, astrocytes are involved in various types of CNS activity including: (1) cytokine secretion for neuronal survival, growth and differentiation; (2) protection from brain injury; (3) modulation of the blood brain barrier; and (4) neuronal immunity. Bidirectional crosstalk between the astrocytes and neurons exists. Astrocytes can be activated by neurotransmitters released and can themselves release gliotransmitters to act upon neurons. Astrocytes are closely related to various disease states, including epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. In this study, the electrical properties of astrocytes, including the contact potential difference (CPD) and capacitance gradients of the cell bodies and glial filaments, and charge propagation in the gap junctions were investigated at the nanometer level using quantitative Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) and Electrostatic Force Microscopy (EFM). The CPD of the cell bodies and glial filaments of the astrocytes were 324.2 mV and 119.1 mV, respectively. Capacitance gradients of the cell bodies and glial filaments of the astrocytes were 1.51 zF/nm and 1.98 zF/nm, respectively. Gap junctions in the astrocytes do not perform charge propagation functions and the astrocytes are not electrically sensitive. One should note that these results from KPFM and EFM were measured on dried cell and the situation might be different when studying in operando environment, still these findings aid our understanding of the electrical properties and functions of astrocytes, and further our knowledge of the electrical properties of the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Zhao
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ling-Zhi Cheong
- College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Wei Cui
- Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shujun Xu
- Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Cai Shen
- Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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16
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ZHAO W, CUI W, XU S, CHEONG L, SHEN C. Examination of Alzheimer's disease by a combination of electrostatic force and mechanical measurement. J Microsc 2019; 275:66-72. [DOI: 10.1111/jmi.12801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- W. ZHAO
- Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences Ningbo Zhejiang China
| | - W. CUI
- Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of MedicineNingbo University Ningbo Zhejiang China
| | - S. XU
- Ningbo Key Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of MedicineNingbo University Ningbo Zhejiang China
| | - L.‐Z. CHEONG
- College of Food and Pharmaceutical SciencesNingbo University Ningbo China
| | - C. SHEN
- Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences Ningbo Zhejiang China
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