1
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Garcia-Sacristan C, Gisbert VG, Klein K, Šarić A, Garcia R. In Operando Imaging Electrostatic-Driven Disassembly and Reassembly of Collagen Nanostructures. ACS NANO 2024; 18:18485-18492. [PMID: 38958189 PMCID: PMC11256892 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c03839] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Collagen is the most abundant protein in tissue scaffolds in live organisms. Collagen can self-assemble in vitro, which has led to a number of biotechnological and biomedical applications. To understand the dominant factors that participate in the formation of collagen nanostructures, here we study in real time and with nanoscale resolution the disassembly and reassembly of collagens. We implement a high-speed force microscope, which provides in situ high spatiotemporal resolution images of collagen nanostructures under changing pH conditions. The disassembly and reassembly are dominated by the electrostatic interactions among amino-acid residues of different molecules. Acidic conditions favor disassembly by neutralizing negatively charged residues. The process sets a net repulsive force between collagen molecules. A neutral pH favors the presence of negative and positively charged residues along the collagen molecules, which promotes their electrostatic attraction. Molecular dynamics simulations reproduce the experimental behavior and validate the electrostatic-based model of the disassembly and reassembly processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Garcia-Sacristan
- Instituto
de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Victor G. Gisbert
- Instituto
de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Kevin Klein
- Institute
of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, University College
London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Anđela Šarić
- Institute
of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
| | - Ricardo Garcia
- Instituto
de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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2
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Polykretis P, D’Andrea C, Banchelli M, Napolitano L, Cascella R, de Angelis M, Matteini P. Exploring the Aβ 1-42 fibrillogenesis timeline by atomic force microscopy and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1376411. [PMID: 38948077 PMCID: PMC11211275 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1376411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive debilitating neurological disorder representing the most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. Although the exact pathogenic mechanisms of AD remain unresolved, the presence of extracellular amyloid-β peptide 1-42 (Aβ1-42) plaques in the parenchymal and cortical brain is considered one of the hallmarks of the disease. Methods: In this work, we investigated the Aβ1-42 fibrillogenesis timeline up to 48 h of incubation, providing morphological and chemo-structural characterization of the main assemblies formed during the aggregation process of Aβ1-42, by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), respectively. Results: AFM topography evidenced the presence of characteristic protofibrils at early-stages of aggregation, which form peculiar macromolecular networks over time. SERS allowed to track the progressive variation in the secondary structure of the aggregation species involved in the fibrillogenesis and to determine when the β-sheet starts to prevail over the random coil conformation in the aggregation process. Discussion: Our research highlights the significance of investigating the early phases of fibrillogenesis to better understand the molecular pathophysiology of AD and identify potential therapeutic targets that may prevent or slow down the aggregation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagis Polykretis
- Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”, National Research Council, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Cristiano D’Andrea
- Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”, National Research Council, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Martina Banchelli
- Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”, National Research Council, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Liliana Napolitano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Roberta Cascella
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marella de Angelis
- Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”, National Research Council, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Paolo Matteini
- Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”, National Research Council, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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3
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Miler I, Rabasovic MD, Askrabic S, Stylianou A, Korac B, Korac A. Short-Term l-arginine Treatment Mitigates Early Damage of Dermal Collagen Induced by Diabetes. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:407. [PMID: 38671828 PMCID: PMC11048012 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11040407] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Changes in the structural properties of the skin due to collagen alterations are an important factor in diabetic skin complications. Using a combination of photonic methods as an optic diagnostic tool, we investigated the structural alteration in rat dermal collagen I in diabetes, and after short-term l-arginine treatment. The multiplex approach shows that in the early phase of diabetes, collagen fibers are partially damaged, resulting in the heterogeneity of fibers, e.g., "patchy patterns" of highly ordered/disordered fibers, while l-arginine treatment counteracts to some extent the conformational changes in collagen-induced by diabetes and mitigates the damage. Raman spectroscopy shows intense collagen conformational changes via amides I and II in diabetes, suggesting that diabetes-induced structural changes in collagen originate predominantly from individual collagen molecules rather than supramolecular structures. There is a clear increase in the amounts of newly synthesized proline and hydroxyproline after treatment with l-arginine, reflecting the changed collagen content. This suggests that it might be useful for treating and stopping collagen damage early on in diabetic skin. Our results demonstrate that l-arginine attenuates the early collagen I alteration caused by diabetes and that it could be used to treat and prevent collagen damage in diabetic skin at a very early stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Miler
- Center for Biosystems, BioSense Institute, University of Novi Sad, Dr Zorana Djindjica 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Mihailo D. Rabasovic
- Institute of Physics Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (S.A.)
| | - Sonja Askrabic
- Institute of Physics Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (S.A.)
| | - Andreas Stylianou
- School of Science, European University Cyprus, 6 Diogenous Str., Egkomi, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus;
| | - Bato Korac
- Institute for Biological Research “Sinisa Stankovic”, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Aleksandra Korac
- Center for Electron Microscopy, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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4
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Krawczyk-Wołoszyn K, Roczkowski D, Reich A. Evaluation of Surface Structure and Morphological Phenomena of Caucasian Virgin Hair with Atomic Force Microscopy. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2024; 60:297. [PMID: 38399584 PMCID: PMC10890343 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60020297] [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: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a type of scanning microscopy (SPM), which has a resolution of fractions of a nanometer on the atomic scale, is widely used in materials science. To date, research using AFM in medicine has focused on neurodegenerative diseases, osteoporosis, cancer tumors, cell receptors, proteins and the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system. Only a few small studies of hair imaging have been conducted, mostly in biotechnology or cosmetology. Thanks to the possibilities offered by AFM imaging, dermatologists can non-invasively assess the condition of hair and its possible disorders. Our goal was to capture images and microscopically analyze morphological changes in the surface of healthy hair. Materials and Methods: In this study, three to five hairs were collected from each person. Each hair was examined at nine locations (0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0; 3.5; 4.5; 5.5; 6.5 and 7.0 cm from the root). At least 4 images (4-10 images) were taken at each of the 9 locations. A total of 496 photos were taken and analyzed. Metric measurements of hair scales, such as apparent length, width and scale step height, were taken. Results: This publication presents the changes occurring in hair during the natural delamination process. In addition, morphoological changes visualized on the surface of healthy hair (pitting, oval indentations, rod-shaped macro-fibrillar elements, globules, scratches, wavy edge) are presented. A quantitative analysis of the structures found was carried out. Conclusions: The findings of this study can be used in further research and work related to the subject of human hair. They can serve as a reference for research on scalp and hair diseases, as well as hair care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Krawczyk-Wołoszyn
- Doctoral School, University of Rzeszow, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland;
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of the Rzeszow University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland;
| | - Damian Roczkowski
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of the Rzeszow University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland;
| | - Adam Reich
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of the Rzeszow University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland;
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5
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Savvopoulos F, Keeling MC, Carassiti D, Fogell NA, Patel MB, Naser J, Gavara N, de Silva R, Krams R. Assessment of the nano-mechanical properties of healthy and atherosclerotic coronary arteries by atomic force microscopy. J R Soc Interface 2024; 21:20230674. [PMID: 38320600 PMCID: PMC10846958 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Nano-indentation techniques might be better equipped to assess the heterogeneous material properties of plaques than macroscopic methods but there are no bespoke protocols for this kind of material testing for coronary arteries. Therefore, we developed a measurement protocol to extract mechanical properties from healthy and atherosclerotic coronary artery tissue sections. Young's modulus was derived from force-indentation data. Metrics of collagen fibre density were extracted from the same tissue, and the local material properties were co-registered to the local collagen microstructure with a robust framework. The locations of the indentation were retrospectively classified by histological category (healthy, plaque, lipid-rich, fibrous cap) according to Picrosirius Red stain and adjacent Hematoxylin & Eosin and Oil-Red-O stains. Plaque tissue was softer (p < 0.001) than the healthy coronary wall. Areas rich in collagen within the plaque (fibrous cap) were significantly (p < 0.001) stiffer than areas poor in collagen/lipid-rich, but less than half as stiff as the healthy coronary media. Young's moduli correlated (Pearson's ρ = 0.53, p < 0.05) with collagen content. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is capable of detecting tissue stiffness changes related to collagen density in healthy and diseased cardiovascular tissue. Mechanical characterization of atherosclerotic plaques with nano-indentation techniques could refine constitutive models for computational modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fotios Savvopoulos
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW3 6LR, UK
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW3 6LR, UK
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Michael C. Keeling
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Daniele Carassiti
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Nicholas A. Fogell
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW3 6LR, UK
| | - Miten B. Patel
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW3 6LR, UK
| | - Jarka Naser
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW3 6LR, UK
| | - Núria Gavara
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Medical School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08007, Spain
| | - Ranil de Silva
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW3 6LR, UK
| | - Rob Krams
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
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6
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Zimron-Politi N, Tung RC. Contact resonance atomic force microscopy using long elastic tips. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 35:075503. [PMID: 37949047 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ad0bd2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
In this work, a new theoretical model for contact resonance atomic force microscopy, which incorporates the elastic dynamics of a long sensing tip is presented. The model is based on the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory and includes coupling effects from the two-beam structure, also known as an 'L-shaped' beam in the literature. Here, high-accuracy prediction of the sample stiffness, using several vibration modes with a relative error smaller than 10% for practical working ranges, is demonstrated. A discussion on the model's capability to predict the dynamic phenomena of eigenmode veering and crossing, as the force applied to the sample increases, is presented. The L-shaped beam model presented here is also applicable for structural applications such as: micro-electro-mechanical systems, energy harvesting, and unmanned aerial vehicle landing gear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadav Zimron-Politi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89557-0312, United States of America
| | - Ryan C Tung
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89557-0312, United States of America
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7
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Kontomaris SV, Stylianou A, Chliveros G, Malamou A. A New Elementary Method for Determining the Tip Radius and Young's Modulus in AFM Spherical Indentations. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1716. [PMID: 37763878 PMCID: PMC10536531 DOI: 10.3390/mi14091716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a powerful tool for characterizing biological materials at the nanoscale utilizing the AFM nanoindentation method. When testing biological materials, spherical indenters are typically employed to reduce the possibility of damaging the sample. The accuracy of determining Young's modulus depends, among other factors, on the calibration of the indenter, i.e., the determination of the tip radius. This paper demonstrates that the tip radius can be approximately calculated using a single force-indentation curve on an unknown, soft sample without performing any additional experimental calibration process. The proposed method is based on plotting a tangent line on the force indentation curve at the maximum indentation depth. Subsequently, using equations that relate the applied force, maximum indentation depth, and the tip radius, the calculation of the tip radius becomes trivial. It is significant to note that the method requires only a single force-indentation curve and does not necessitate knowledge of the sample's Young's modulus. Consequently, the determination of both the sample's Young's modulus and the tip radius can be performed simultaneously. Thus, the experimental effort is significantly reduced. The method was tested on 80 force-indentation curves obtained on an agarose gel, and the results were accurate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stylianos Vasileios Kontomaris
- Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Metropolitan College, 15125 Athens, Greece;
- BioNanoTec Ltd., Nicosia 2043, Cyprus
| | - Andreas Stylianou
- School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus;
| | - Georgios Chliveros
- Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Metropolitan College, 15125 Athens, Greece;
| | - Anna Malamou
- Independent Power Transmission Operator S.A. (IPTO), 10443 Athens, Greece;
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8
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Kapnisis K, Stylianou A, Kokkinidou D, Martin A, Wang D, Anderson PG, Prokopi M, Papastefanou C, Brott BC, Lemons JE, Anayiotos A. Multilevel Assessment of Stent-Induced Inflammation in the Adjacent Vascular Tissue. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:4747-4760. [PMID: 37480152 PMCID: PMC10428095 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
A recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration report presented the currently available scientific information related to biological response to metal implants. In this work, a multilevel approach was employed to assess the implant-induced and biocorrosion-related inflammation in the adjacent vascular tissue using a mouse stent implantation model. The implications of biocorrosion on peri-implant tissue were assessed at the macroscopic level via in vivo imaging and histomorphology. Elevated matrix metalloproteinase activity, colocalized with the site of implantation, and histological staining indicated that stent surface condition and implantation time affect the inflammatory response and subsequent formation and extent of neointima. Hematological measurements also demonstrated that accumulated metal particle contamination in blood samples from corroded-stetted mice causes a stronger immune response. At the cellular level, the stent-induced alterations in the nanostructure, cytoskeleton, and mechanical properties of circulating lymphocytes were investigated. It was found that cells from corroded-stented samples exhibited higher stiffness, in terms of Young's modulus values, compared to noncorroded and sham-stented samples. Nanomechanical modifications were also accompanied by cellular remodeling, through alterations in cell morphology and stress (F-actin) fiber characteristics. Our analysis indicates that surface wear and elevated metal particle contamination, prompted by corroded stents, may contribute to the inflammatory response and the multifactorial process of in-stent restenosis. The results also suggest that circulating lymphocytes could be a novel nanomechanical biomarker for peri-implant tissue inflammation and possibly the early stage of in-stent restenosis. Large-scale studies are warranted to further investigate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Kapnisis
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus
| | - Andreas Stylianou
- School
of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
- Department
of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus
| | - Despoina Kokkinidou
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus
| | - Adam Martin
- Department
of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0111, United States
| | - Dezhi Wang
- Department
of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0111, United States
| | - Peter G. Anderson
- Department
of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0111, United States
| | - Marianna Prokopi
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus
| | | | - Brigitta C. Brott
- Department
of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0111, United States
| | - Jack E. Lemons
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, University of
Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0111, United States
| | - Andreas Anayiotos
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus
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9
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Sambani K, Kontomaris SV, Yova D. Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging of Elastin Nanofibers Self-Assembly. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:4313. [PMID: 37374496 DOI: 10.3390/ma16124313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Elastin is an extracellular matrix protein, providing elasticity to the organs, such as skin, blood vessels, lungs and elastic ligaments, presenting self-assembling ability to form elastic fibers. The elastin protein, as a component of elastin fibers, is one of the major proteins found in connective tissue and is responsible for the elasticity of tissues. It provides resilience to the human body, assembled as a continuous mesh of fibers that require to be deformed repetitively and reversibly. Thus, it is of great importance to investigate the development of the nanostructural surface of elastin-based biomaterials. The purpose of this research was to image the self-assembling process of elastin fiber structure under different experimental parameters such as suspension medium, elastin concentration, temperature of stock suspension and time interval after the preparation of the stock suspension. atomic force microscopy (AFM) was applied in order to investigate how different experimental parameters affected fiber development and morphology. The results demonstrated that through altering a number of experimental parameters, it was possible to affect the self-assembly procedure of elastin fibers from nanofibers and the formation of elastin nanostructured mesh consisting of naturally occurring fibers. Further clarification of the contribution of different parameters on fibril formation will enable the design and control of elastin-based nanobiomaterials with predetermined characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyriaki Sambani
- Biomedical Optics and Applied Biophysics Laboratory, Division of Electromagnetics, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electrooptics and Electronic Materials, National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou, 15780 Athens, Greece
| | - Stylianos Vasileios Kontomaris
- Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Metropolitan College, 15125 Athens, Greece
- BioNanoTec Ltd., 2404 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Dido Yova
- Biomedical Optics and Applied Biophysics Laboratory, Division of Electromagnetics, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electrooptics and Electronic Materials, National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou, 15780 Athens, Greece
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10
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Donnaloja F, Limonta E, Mancosu C, Morandi F, Boeri L, Albani D, Raimondi MT. Unravelling the mechanotransduction pathways in Alzheimer's disease. J Biol Eng 2023; 17:22. [PMID: 36978103 PMCID: PMC10045049 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-023-00336-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents one of the most common and debilitating neurodegenerative disorders. By the end of 2040, AD patients might reach 11.2 million in the USA, around 70% higher than 2022, with severe consequences on the society. As now, we still need research to find effective methods to treat AD. Most studies focused on the tau and amyloid hypothesis, but many other factors are likely involved in the pathophysiology of AD. In this review, we summarize scientific evidence dealing with the mechanotransduction players in AD to highlight the most relevant mechano-responsive elements that play a role in AD pathophysiology. We focused on the AD-related role of extracellular matrix (ECM), nuclear lamina, nuclear transport and synaptic activity. The literature supports that ECM alteration causes the lamin A increment in the AD patients, leading to the formation of nuclear blebs and invaginations. Nuclear blebs have consequences on the nuclear pore complexes, impairing nucleo-cytoplasmic transport. This may result in tau hyperphosphorylation and its consequent self-aggregation in tangles, which impairs the neurotransmitters transport. It all exacerbates in synaptic transmission impairment, leading to the characteristic AD patient's memory loss. Here we related for the first time all the evidence associating the mechanotransduction pathway with neurons. In addition, we highlighted the entire pathway influencing neurodegenerative diseases, paving the way for new research perspectives in the context of AD and related pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Donnaloja
- Politecnico Di Milano, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Campus Leonardo, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Emma Limonta
- Politecnico Di Milano, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Campus Leonardo, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Christian Mancosu
- Politecnico Di Milano, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Campus Leonardo, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Morandi
- Politecnico Di Milano, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Campus Leonardo, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Boeri
- Politecnico Di Milano, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Campus Leonardo, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Diego Albani
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Teresa Raimondi
- Politecnico Di Milano, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Campus Leonardo, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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11
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Pancreatic Cancer Presents Distinct Nanomechanical Properties During Progression. Ann Biomed Eng 2023:10.1007/s10439-023-03168-3. [PMID: 36813931 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-023-03168-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Cancer progression is closely related to changes in the structure and mechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment (TME). In many solid tumors, including pancreatic cancer, the interplay among the different components of the TME leads to a desmoplastic reaction mainly due to collagen overproduction. Desmoplasia is responsible for the stiffening of the tumor, poses a major barrier to effective drug delivery and has been associated with poor prognosis. The understanding of the involved mechanisms in desmoplasia and the identification of nanomechanical and collagen-based properties that characterize the state of a particular tumor can lead to the development of novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. In this study, in vitro experiments were conducted using two human pancreatic cell lines. Morphological and cytoskeleton characteristics, cells' stiffness and invasive properties were assessed using optical and atomic force microscopy techniques and cell spheroid invasion assay. Subsequently, the two cell lines were used to develop orthotopic pancreatic tumor models. Tissue biopsies were collected at different times of tumor growth for the study of the nanomechanical and collagen-based optical properties of the tissue using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and picrosirius red polarization microscopy, respectively. The results from the in vitro experiments demonstrated that the more invasive cells are softer and present a more elongated shape with more oriented F-actin stress fibers. Furthermore, ex vivo studies of orthotopic tumor biopsies on MIAPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 murine tumor models highlighted that pancreatic cancer presents distinct nanomechanical and collagen-based optical properties relevant to cancer progression. The stiffness spectrums (in terms of Young's modulus values) showed that the higher elasticity distributions were increasing during cancer progression mainly due desmoplasia (collagen overproduction), while a lower elasticity peak was evident - due to cancer cells softening - on both tumor models. Optical microscopy studies highlighted that collagen content increases while collagen fibers tend to form align patterns. Consequently, during cancer progression nanomechanical and collagen-based optical properties alter in relation to changes in collagen content. Therefore, they have the potential to be used as novel biomarkers for assessing and monitoring tumor progression and treatment outcomes.
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12
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Kang JS, Navindaran K, Phillips J, Kenny K, Moon KS. Characterization of mechanical properties of soft tissues using sub-microscale tensile testing and 3D-Printed sample holder. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2023; 138:105581. [PMID: 36463810 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105581] [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: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Obtaining the mechanical properties of soft tissues is critical in many medical fields, such as regenerative medicine and surgical simulation training. Although various tissue-characterization methods have been developed, such as AFM, indentation, and elastography, there remain some limitations on their accuracy and validity for measuring small and fragile soft tissues. This paper presents a tensile testing technique to measure the mechanical properties of soft tissues directly and accurately. Tensile testing was chosen as the primary method because of its simple procedure and ability to derive mechanical properties without requiring many assumptions or complicated models. However, tensile testing on soft tissues presents challenges related to gripping the tissue sample without affecting its inherent properties, applying minuscule forces to the sample, and measuring the cross-section area and strain of the sample. To solve these issues, this study presents a sub-micro scale tensile testing system that uses a flexure mechanism and a novel 3D-printed sample holder for gripping the tissue samples. The system also measures tested samples' cross-section area and strain using two high-resolution cameras. The system was validated by testing standard materials and used to characterize the elastic modulus, yield stress, and yield strain of lung tissue slices from six different mice. The results from the validation tests showed a less than 2.5% error for elastic modulus values measured using the tensile tester. At the same time, results from the mice lung tissue measurements revealed qualitative findings that closely matched those seen in the literature and displayed low coefficient of variation values, demonstrating the high repeatability of the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- John S Kang
- The Department of Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92182, CA, USA
| | - Kishev Navindaran
- The Department of Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92182, CA, USA
| | - J Phillips
- The Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92182, CA, USA
| | - K Kenny
- The Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92182, CA, USA
| | - Kee S Moon
- The Department of Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92182, CA, USA.
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13
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Techniques for characterizing mechanical properties of soft tissues. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2023; 138:105575. [PMID: 36470112 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The characterization of soft tissues remains a vital need for various bioengineering and medical fields. Developing areas such as regenerative medicine, robot-aided surgery, and surgical simulations all require accurate knowledge about the mechanical properties of soft tissues to replicate their mechanics. Mechanical properties can be characterized through several different characterization techniques such as atomic force microscopy, compression testing, and tensile testing. However, many of these methods contain considerable differences in ability to accurately characterize the mechanical properties of soft tissues. As a result of these variations, there are often discrepancies in the reported values for numerous studies. This paper reviews common characterization methods that have been applied to obtain the mechanical properties of soft tissues and highlights their advantages as well as disadvantages. The limitations, accuracies, repeatability, in-vivo testing capability, and types of properties measurable for each method are also discussed.
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14
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Kontomaris SV, Stylianou A, Georgakopoulos A, Malamou A. 3D AFM Nanomechanical Characterization of Biological Materials. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:395. [PMID: 36770357 PMCID: PMC9920073 DOI: 10.3390/nano13030395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a powerful tool enabling the mechanical characterization of biological materials at the nanoscale. Since biological materials are highly heterogeneous, their mechanical characterization is still considered to be a challenging procedure. In this paper, a new approach that leads to a 3-dimensional (3D) nanomechanical characterization is presented based on the average Young's modulus and the AFM indentation method. The proposed method can contribute to the clarification of the variability of the mechanical properties of biological samples in the 3-dimensional space (variability at the x-y plane and depth-dependent behavior). The method was applied to agarose gels, fibroblasts, and breast cancer cells. Moreover, new mathematical methods towards a quantitative mechanical characterization are also proposed. The presented approach is a step forward to a more accurate and complete characterization of biological materials and could contribute to an accurate user-independent diagnosis of various diseases such as cancer in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stylianos Vasileios Kontomaris
- BioNanoTec Ltd., 2043 Nicosia, Cyprus
- Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Metropolitan College, 15125 Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Stylianou
- School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, 2404 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Anastasios Georgakopoulos
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Malamou
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece
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15
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Kontomaris SV, Stylianou A, Chliveros G, Malamou A. Determining Spatial Variability of Elastic Properties for Biological Samples Using AFM. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:mi14010182. [PMID: 36677243 PMCID: PMC9862197 DOI: 10.3390/mi14010182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Measuring the mechanical properties (i.e., elasticity in terms of Young's modulus) of biological samples using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) indentation at the nanoscale has opened new horizons in studying and detecting various pathological conditions at early stages, including cancer and osteoarthritis. It is expected that AFM techniques will play a key role in the future in disease diagnosis and modeling using rigorous mathematical criteria (i.e., automated user-independent diagnosis). In this review, AFM techniques and mathematical models for determining the spatial variability of elastic properties of biological materials at the nanoscale are presented and discussed. Significant issues concerning the rationality of the elastic half-space assumption, the possibility of monitoring the depth-dependent mechanical properties, and the construction of 3D Young's modulus maps are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stylianos Vasileios Kontomaris
- BioNanoTec Ltd., Nicosia 2043, Cyprus
- Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Metropolitan College, 15125 Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Stylianou
- School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
| | - Georgios Chliveros
- Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Metropolitan College, 15125 Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Malamou
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece
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16
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Riachy L, Ferrand T, Chasserot-Golaz S, Galas L, Alexandre S, Montero-Hadjadje M. Advanced Imaging Approaches to Reveal Molecular Mechanisms Governing Neuroendocrine Secretion. Neuroendocrinology 2023; 113:107-119. [PMID: 34915491 DOI: 10.1159/000521457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Identification of the molecular mechanisms governing neuroendocrine secretion and resulting intercellular communication is one of the great challenges of cell biology to better understand organism physiology and neurosecretion disruption-related pathologies such as hypertension, neurodegenerative, or metabolic diseases. To visualize molecule distribution and dynamics at the nanoscale, many imaging approaches have been developed and are still emerging. In this review, we provide an overview of the pioneering studies using transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, total internal reflection microscopy, and super-resolution microscopy in neuroendocrine cells to visualize molecular mechanisms driving neurosecretion processes, including exocytosis and associated fusion pores, endocytosis and associated recycling vesicles, and protein-protein or protein-lipid interactions. Furthermore, the potential and the challenges of these different advanced imaging approaches for application in the study of neuroendocrine cell biology are discussed, aiming to guide researchers to select the best approach for their specific purpose around the crucial but not yet fully understood neurosecretion process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Riachy
- Laboratoire de Différenciation et Communication Neuronale et Neuroendocrine, Institut de Recherche et d'Innovation Biomédicale de Normandie, Normandie University, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Rouen, France
| | - Thomas Ferrand
- Laboratoire de Différenciation et Communication Neuronale et Neuroendocrine, Institut de Recherche et d'Innovation Biomédicale de Normandie, Normandie University, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Rouen, France
| | - Sylvette Chasserot-Golaz
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Strasbourg University, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ludovic Galas
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, INSERM, PRIMACEN, Rouen, France
| | - Stéphane Alexandre
- Polymères, Biopolymères, Surfaces Laboratory, CNRS, Normandie University, UNIROUEN, UMR 6270, Rouen, France
| | - Maité Montero-Hadjadje
- Laboratoire de Différenciation et Communication Neuronale et Neuroendocrine, Institut de Recherche et d'Innovation Biomédicale de Normandie, Normandie University, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Rouen, France
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17
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Peña B, Gao S, Borin D, Del Favero G, Abdel-Hafiz M, Farahzad N, Lorenzon P, Sinagra G, Taylor MRG, Mestroni L, Sbaizero O. Cellular Biomechanic Impairment in Cardiomyocytes Carrying the Progeria Mutation: An Atomic Force Microscopy Investigation. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:14928-14940. [PMID: 36420863 PMCID: PMC9730902 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Given the clinical effect of progeria syndrome, understanding the cell mechanical behavior of this pathology could benefit the patient's treatment. Progeria patients show a point mutation in the lamin A/C gene (LMNA), which could change the cell's biomechanical properties. This paper reports a mechano-dynamic analysis of a progeria mutation (c.1824 C > T, p.Gly608Gly) in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) using cell indentation by atomic force microscopy to measure alterations in beating force, frequency, and contractile amplitude of selected cells within cell clusters. Furthermore, we examined the beating rate variability using a time-domain method that produces a Poincaré plot because beat-to-beat changes can shed light on the causes of arrhythmias. Our data have been further related to our cell phenotype findings, using immunofluorescence and calcium transient analysis, showing that mutant NRVMs display changes in both beating force and frequency. These changes were associated with a decreased gap junction localization (Connexin 43) in the mutant NRVMs even in the presence of a stable cytoskeletal structure (microtubules and actin filaments) when compared with controls (wild type and non-treated cells). These data emphasize the kindred between nucleoskeleton (LMNA), cytoskeleton, and the sarcolemmal structures in NRVM with the progeria Gly608Gly mutation, prompting future mechanistic and therapeutic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brisa Peña
- Cardiovascular
Institute & Adult Medical Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
- Bioengineering
Department, University of Colorado Denver
Anschutz Medical Campus, 12705 E. Montview Avenue, Suite 100, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
| | - Shanshan Gao
- Cardiovascular
Institute & Adult Medical Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
| | - Daniele Borin
- Department
of Engineering and Architecture, University
of Trieste, Trieste34127, Italy
| | - Giorgia Del Favero
- Department
of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38-42, 1090Vienna, Austria
- Core
Facility Multimodal Imaging, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Wien, Währinger Straße 38-42, 1090Vienna, Austria
| | - Mostafa Abdel-Hafiz
- Bioengineering
Department, University of Colorado Denver
Anschutz Medical Campus, 12705 E. Montview Avenue, Suite 100, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
| | - Nasim Farahzad
- Bioengineering
Department, University of Colorado Denver
Anschutz Medical Campus, 12705 E. Montview Avenue, Suite 100, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
| | - Paola Lorenzon
- Department
F of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste34127, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Sinagra
- Polo
Cardiologico, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria
Integrata di Trieste, Strada di Fiume 447, Trieste34127, Italy
| | - Matthew R. G. Taylor
- Cardiovascular
Institute & Adult Medical Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
| | - Luisa Mestroni
- Cardiovascular
Institute & Adult Medical Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
| | - Orfeo Sbaizero
- Cardiovascular
Institute & Adult Medical Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
- Department
of Engineering and Architecture, University
of Trieste, Trieste34127, Italy
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18
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Xia F, Youcef-Toumi K. Review: Advanced Atomic Force Microscopy Modes for Biomedical Research. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:1116. [PMID: 36551083 PMCID: PMC9775674 DOI: 10.3390/bios12121116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Visualization of biomedical samples in their native environments at the microscopic scale is crucial for studying fundamental principles and discovering biomedical systems with complex interaction. The study of dynamic biological processes requires a microscope system with multiple modalities, high spatial/temporal resolution, large imaging ranges, versatile imaging environments and ideally in-situ manipulation capabilities. Recent development of new Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) capabilities has made it such a powerful tool for biological and biomedical research. This review introduces novel AFM functionalities including high-speed imaging for dynamic process visualization, mechanobiology with force spectroscopy, molecular species characterization, and AFM nano-manipulation. These capabilities enable many new possibilities for novel scientific research and allow scientists to observe and explore processes at the nanoscale like never before. Selected application examples from recent studies are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of these AFM techniques.
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19
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Stylianou A, Mpekris F, Voutouri C, Papoui A, Constantinidou A, Kitiris E, Kailides M, Stylianopoulos T. Nanomechanical properties of solid tumors as treatment monitoring biomarkers. Acta Biomater 2022; 154:324-334. [PMID: 36244596 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Many tumors, such as types of sarcoma and breast cancer, stiffen as they grow in a host healthy tissue, while individual cancer cells are becoming softer. Tumor stiffening poses major pathophysiological barriers to the effective delivery of drugs and compromises treatment efficacy. It has been established that normalization of the mechanical properties of a tumor by targeting components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) enhances the delivery of anti-cancer agents and consequently the therapeutic outcome. Consequently, there is an urgent need for the development of biomarkers, which characterize the mechanical state of a particular tumor for the development of personalized treatments or for monitoring therapeutic strategies that target the TME. In this work, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used to assess human and murine nanomechanical properties from tumor biopsies. In the case of murine tumor models, the nanomechanical properties during tumor progression were measured and a TME normalization drug (tranilast) along with chemotherapy doxorubicin were employed in order to investigate whether AFM has the ability to capture changes in the nanomechanical properties of a tumor during treatment. The nanomechanical data were further correlated with ex vivo characterization of structural components of the TME. The results highlighted that nanomechanical properties alter during cancer progression and AFM measurements are sensitive enough to capture even small alterations during different types of treatments, namely normalization and chemotherapy. The identification of unique AFM-based nanomechanical properties can lead to the development of biomarkers for treatment prediction and monitoring. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Cancer progression is associated with vast remodeling of the tumor microenvironment resulting in changes in the mechanical properties of the tissue. Indeed, many tumors stiffen as they grow and this stiffening compromises treatment efficacy. As a result, a number of treatments target tumor microenvironment in order to normalize its mechanical properties. Consequently, there is an urgent need for the development of innovative tools that can assess the mechanical properties of a particular tumor and monitor tumor progression and treatment outcomes. This work highlights the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) for assessing the elasticity spectrum of solid tumors at different stages and during treatment. This knowledge is essential for the development of AFM-based nanomechanical biomarkers for treatment prediction and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Stylianou
- Cancer Mechanobiology and Applied Biophysics Group, Basic and Translational Cancer Research Center, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Cyprus; European University Research Centre Ltd, Nicosia, Cyprus; Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Cyprus.
| | - Fotios Mpekris
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Cyprus
| | - Chrysovalantis Voutouri
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Cyprus
| | - Antonia Papoui
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Cyprus
| | - Anastasia Constantinidou
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, Cyprus; Bank of Cyprus Oncology Center, Cyprus; Cyprus Cancer Research Institute, Cyprus
| | | | | | - Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Cyprus.
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20
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Kontomaris S, Stylianou A, Georgakopoulos A, Malamou A. Is it mathematically correct to fit AFM data (obtained on biological materials) to equations arising from Hertzian mechanics? Micron 2022; 164:103384. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2022.103384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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21
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Elasticity regulates nanomaterial transport as delivery vehicles: Design, characterization, mechanisms and state of the art. Biomaterials 2022; 291:121879. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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22
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Leiva-Sabadini C, Schuh CM, Barrera NP, Aguayo S. Ultrastructural characterisation of young and aged dental enamel by atomic force microscopy. J Microsc 2022; 288:185-192. [PMID: 35621144 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.13126] [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: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in atomic force microscopy (AFM) have allowed the characterisation of dental-associated biomaterials and biological surfaces with high-resolution. In this context, the topography of dental enamel - the hardest mineralised tissue in the body - has been explored with AFM-based approaches at the micro-scale. With age, teeth are known to suffer changes that can impact their structural stability and function; however, changes in enamel structure because of ageing have not yet been explored with nanoscale resolution. Therefore, the aim of this exploratory work was to optimise an approach to characterise the ultrastructure of dental enamel and determine potential differences in topography, hydroxyapatite (HA) crystal size, and surface roughness at the nanoscale associated to ageing. For this, a total of six teeth were collected from human donors from which enamel specimens were prepared. By employing intermittent contact (AC mode) imaging, HA crystals were characterised in both transversal and longitudinal orientation (respect to surface plane) with high-resolution in environmental conditions. The external enamel surface displayed the presence of a pellicle-like coating on its surface, that was not observable on cleaned specimens. Acid-etching exposed crystals that were imaged and morphologically characterised in high-resolution at the nanoscale in both the external and internal regions of enamel in older and younger specimens. Our results demonstrated important individual variations in HA crystal width and roughness parameters across the analysed specimens; however, an increase in surface roughness and decrease in HA width was observed for the pooled older external enamel group compared to younger specimens. Overall, high-resolution AFM was an effective approach for the qualitative and quantitative characterisation of human dental enamel ultrastructure. Future work should focus on exploring the ageing of dental enamel with increased sample sizes to compensate for individual differences as well as other potential confounding factors such as behavioural habits and mechanical forces. Lay abstract: Currently, advanced microscopy techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) can be used to characterise surfaces relevant to dentistry with great detail. Among these surfaces of interest, dental enamel - the hardest mineralised tissue in the body- is important as it protects the deeper areas of the tooth from harmful stimuli such as sudden temperature changes, bacterial penetration, and chemical attack. Also, dental enamel is an important surface for the adhesion of some types of dental restorations; thus, its structure and organisation is highly relevant for both dental scientists and clinicians. With age, teeth are known to suffer changes that can impact their structural stability and function; however, changes in enamel structure as a result of ageing have not yet been explored with nanoscale resolution. It is necessary to develop and optimise AFM-based techniques in order to process specimens from dental samples across different age groups for ageing-associated nanoscale studies in the future. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to optimise an approach to characterise the ultrastructure of dental enamel and determine potential differences in enamel topography, hydroxyapatite (HA) crystal size, and surface roughness at the nanoscale associated to ageing. For this, human enamel specimens obtained from a total of six teeth were collected and analysed with AFM, and HA crystals were characterised in both transversal and longitudinal orientation with high-resolution in environmental conditions. Upon AFM observation, sound superficial enamel displayed the presence of a pellicle-like coating on its surface, that was not observable after specimens were cleaned. Furthermore, acid-etching exposed HA crystals that were imaged and morphologically characterised in high-resolution at the nanoscale across different regions of enamel in older and younger specimens. We observed important individual variations in HA crystal width and roughness parameters across the analysed specimens and groups, suggesting individual as well as age-associated differences. Overall, high-resolution AFM was an effective approach for the qualitative and quantitative characterisation of human dental enamel ultrastructure at the nanometer range with minimal sample preparation. This proof-of-concept work can pave the way for future studies employing increased sample sizes to compensate for individual differences and population level factors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Leiva-Sabadini
- School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christina Map Schuh
- Centro de Medicina Regenerativa, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nelson P Barrera
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastian Aguayo
- School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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23
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Benech JC, Romanelli G. Atomic force microscopy indentation for nanomechanical characterization of live pathological cardiovascular/heart tissue and cells. Micron 2022; 158:103287. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2022.103287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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24
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Atomic Force Microscopy Nanoindentation Method on Collagen Fibrils. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15072477. [PMID: 35407813 PMCID: PMC8999528 DOI: 10.3390/ma15072477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Atomic Force Microscopy nanoindentation method is a powerful technique that can be used for the nano-mechanical characterization of bio-samples. Significant scientific efforts have been performed during the last two decades to accurately determine the Young’s modulus of collagen fibrils at the nanoscale, as it has been proven that mechanical alterations of collagen are related to various pathological conditions. Different contact mechanics models have been proposed for processing the force–indentation data based on assumptions regarding the shape of the indenter and collagen fibrils and on the elastic or elastic–plastic contact assumption. However, the results reported in the literature do not always agree; for example, the Young’s modulus values for dry collagen fibrils expand from 0.9 to 11.5 GPa. The most significant parameters for the broad range of values are related to the heterogeneous structure of the fibrils, the water content within the fibrils, the data processing errors, and the uncertainties in the calibration of the probe. An extensive discussion regarding the models arising from contact mechanics and the results provided in the literature is presented, while new approaches with respect to future research are proposed.
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25
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Insights into molecular mechanism of action of citrus flavonoids hesperidin and naringin on lipid bilayers using spectroscopic, calorimetric, microscopic and theoretical studies. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2021.118411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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26
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Rosenhek-Goldian I, Abou Karam P, Regev-Rudzki N, Rojas A. Imaging of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Red Blood Cells Using Atomic Force Microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2470:133-145. [PMID: 35881344 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2189-9_12] [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: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is one the most devastating infectious diseases in the world: of the five malaria-associated parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax are the most pathogenic and widespread, respectively. P. falciparum invades human red blood cells (RBCs), releasing extracellular vesicles (Pf-EV) carrying DNA, RNA and protein cargo components involved in host-pathogen communications in the course of the disease. Different strategies have been used to analyze Pf-EV biophysically and chemically. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) stands out as a powerful tool for rendering high quality images of extracellular vesicles. In this technique, a sharp tip attached to a cantilever reconstructs the topographic surface of the extracellular vesicles and probes their nano-mechanical properties based on force-distance curves. Here, we describe a method to separate Pf-EV using differential ultracentrifugation, followed by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) to quantify and estimate the size distribution. Finally, the AFM imaging procedure on Pf-EV adsorbed on a Mg2+-modified mica surface is detailed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irit Rosenhek-Goldian
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Paula Abou Karam
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Neta Regev-Rudzki
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Alicia Rojas
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
- Laboratory of Helminthology, Centro de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales, University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
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27
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The Hertzian theory in AFM nanoindentation experiments regarding biological samples: Overcoming limitations in data processing. Micron 2022; 155:103228. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2022.103228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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28
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Tang X, Fan G, Zhang H, Dai X, Hu Y, Zhang Z, Li Y. An integrated optical waveguide micro-cantilever system for chip-based AFM. J Microsc 2021; 285:112-116. [PMID: 34866187 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.13080] [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: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
An optical waveguide cantilever system with a tip is introduced as the displacement detection system of chip-based atomic force microscopy (AFM) system. A chip-based AFM on optical waveguide is demonstrated with sensitivity of up to 4.0 × 10-2 nm-1 , which is mainly constructed by a 210 nm thick optical waveguide cantilever with a nano-tip. The nano-tip is a height of 1.2 μm and diameter of 140 nm. This integrated on-chip system provides a displacement range of approximately ±0.4 μm, which makes it possible for the device to be used for AFM imaging and pays the way for further performance improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Tang
- Key Laboratory of All Optical Network and Advanced Telecommunication Network, Ministry of Education, Institute of Lightwave Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
| | - Guofang Fan
- Key Laboratory of All Optical Network and Advanced Telecommunication Network, Ministry of Education, Institute of Lightwave Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongru Zhang
- Key Laboratory of All Optical Network and Advanced Telecommunication Network, Ministry of Education, Institute of Lightwave Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
| | - Xingang Dai
- Key Laboratory of All Optical Network and Advanced Telecommunication Network, Ministry of Education, Institute of Lightwave Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanjun Hu
- Key Laboratory of All Optical Network and Advanced Telecommunication Network, Ministry of Education, Institute of Lightwave Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiping Zhang
- Academy for Engineering & Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Li
- National Center of Measurement and Testing for East China, Shanghai Institute of Measurement and Testing Technology, National Center of Testing Technology, Shanghai, China
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29
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John D, Jose J, Bhat SG, Achari VS. Integration of heterogeneous photocatalysis and persulfate based oxidation using TiO 2-reduced graphene oxide for water decontamination and disinfection. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07451. [PMID: 34286128 PMCID: PMC8273424 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) which involve the generation of highly reactive free radicals have been considered as a promising technology for the decontamination of water from chemical and bacterial pollutants. In this study, integration of two major AOPs viz., heterogeneous photocatalysis involving TiO2-reduced graphene oxide (T-RGO) nanocomposite and activated persulfate (PS) based oxidation was attempted to remove diclofenac (DCF), a frequently detected pharmaceutical contaminant in water. The enhanced visible light responsiveness of T-RGO would facilitate the use of direct sunlight as a benign and cost effective source of energy for the photocatalytic activation. By combining PS based oxidation process with T-RGO mediated photocatalysis, a DCF removal efficiency of more than 98% was achieved within 30 min. The effect of operating parameters like PS concentration and pH on DCF removal was assessed. Radical scavenging experiments indicated that apart from radical oxidation involving •OH andSO 4 · - radicals, a non-radical oxidation pathway was also taking place in the degradation. The antibacterial properties of the integrated system were also evaluated using Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as representative bacteria. The presence of PS in the photocatalytic reaction system improved the antibacterial activity of the composite against the two strains studied. Cytotoxicity of T-RGO nanocomposite was assessed using human macrophage cell lines and the results showed that the composite is biocompatible and nontoxic at the recommended dosage for water treatment in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepthi John
- School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 682022, Kerala, India
- Department of Chemistry, Deva Matha College, Kuravilangad, 686633, Kerala, India
| | - Jiya Jose
- Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 682022, Kerala, India
| | - Sarita G. Bhat
- Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 682022, Kerala, India
| | - V. Sivanandan Achari
- School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 682022, Kerala, India
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30
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Takazawa K, Inoue JI, Mitsuishi K, Yoshida Y, Kishida H, Tinnemans P, Engelkamp H, Christianen PCM. Phase-transition-induced jumping, bending, and wriggling of single crystal nanofibers of coronene. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3175. [PMID: 33542387 PMCID: PMC7862269 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82703-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, it has been reported that some organic crystals suddenly crack, break, or jump when they are heated from room temperature. Recently, such crystals have been intensively studied both in fundamental science and for high-speed mechanical device applications. According to these studies, the sudden crystal motions have been attributed to structural phase transitions induced by heating. Stress created by the phase transition is released through the sudden and rapid motion of the crystals. Here we report that single crystal nanofibers of coronene exhibit a new type of ultrafast motion when they are cooled from room temperature and subsequently heated to room temperature. The nanofibers make centimeter-scale jumps accompanied by surprisingly unique behaviors such as sharp bending and wriggling. We found that the motions are caused by a significantly fast structural phase transition between two polymorphs of coronene. A theoretical investigation revealed that the sudden force generated by the phase transition together with the nanoscale dimensions and elastic properties create dynamical instability in the nanofibers that results in the motions. Our finding demonstrates the novel mechanism that leads to ultrafast, large deformation of organic crystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Takazawa
- Center for Green Research on Energy and Environmental Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0003, Japan.
| | - Jun-Ichi Inoue
- MANA, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Mitsuishi
- Research Center for Advanced Measurement and Characterization, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Yoshida
- Division of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.,Faculty of Agriculture, Meijo University, Tempaku-ku, Nagoya, 468-8502, Japan
| | - Hideo Kishida
- Department of Applied Physics, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| | - Paul Tinnemans
- Department of Solid State Chemistry, Radboud University, 6500 GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Engelkamp
- High Field Magnet Laboratory (HFML-EMFL), Radboud University, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter C M Christianen
- High Field Magnet Laboratory (HFML-EMFL), Radboud University, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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31
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Gisbert V, Benaglia S, Uhlig MR, Proksch R, Garcia R. High-Speed Nanomechanical Mapping of the Early Stages of Collagen Growth by Bimodal Force Microscopy. ACS NANO 2021; 15:1850-1857. [PMID: 33412008 PMCID: PMC8477367 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c10159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
High-speed atomic force microscopy (AFM) enabled the imaging of protein interactions with millisecond time resolutions (10 fps). However, the acquisition of nanomechanical maps of proteins is about 100 times slower. Here, we developed a high-speed bimodal AFM that provided high-spatial resolution maps of the elastic modulus, the loss tangent, and the topography at imaging rates of 5 fps. The microscope was applied to identify the initial stages of the self-assembly of the collagen structures. By following the changes in the physical properties, we identified four stages, nucleation and growth of collagen precursors, formation of tropocollagen molecules, assembly of tropocollagens into microfibrils, and alignment of microfibrils to generate microribbons. Some emerging collagen structures never matured, and after an existence of several seconds, they disappeared into the solution. The elastic modulus of a microfibril (∼4 MPa) implied very small stiffness (∼3 × 10-6 N/m). Those values amplified the amplitude of the collagen thermal fluctuations on the mica plane, which facilitated microribbon build-up.
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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, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Simone Benaglia
- Instituto
de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel R. Uhlig
- Instituto
de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Roger Proksch
- Asylum
Research an Oxford Instruments Company, Santa Barbara, California 93117, United States
| | - Ricardo Garcia
- Instituto
de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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32
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Demchenkov EL, Nagdalian AA, Budkevich RO, Oboturova NP, Okolelova AI. Usage of atomic force microscopy for detection of the damaging effect of CdCl 2 on red blood cells membrane. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 208:111683. [PMID: 33396015 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The possibility of detecting the damaging effect of cadmium salts on red blood cells (RBC) membrane by atomic force microscopy and light microscopy was studied. White wistar rats RBC were incubated with cadmium chloride in concentrations of 1 μg/l, 10 μg/l, 100 μg/l, and 1000 μg/l for the research. A comparison of sample preparation methods proposed by other authors in previous studies is made. The optimal method that does not significantly affect the change in the morphological features of the cell is selected. The quantitative assessment of damaged and destroyed RBC depending on the concentration of cadmium was performed by optical microscopy. The study showed that CdCl2 has a damaging effect on the RBC membrane, which leads to the formation of non-specific cell forms. A comparative assessment was made between the methods of optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy for the suitability of studying the morphological characteristics of abnormal forms of the RBC. It is shown that the method of atomic force microscopy allows registering morphological changes in the RBC that cannot be registered by optical microscopy. It is pointed that CdCl2 has effect on destruction of the RBC and the formation of specific bulges on the RBC membrane. Influence of CdCl2 on the RBC mechanical properties was studied using atomic force microscopy. The possibility of using atomic force microscopy in studies of morphology and mechanical properties of the RBC under toxicity effect of cadmium is shown.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A A Nagdalian
- North Caucasus Federal University, Stavropol, Russian Federation.
| | - R O Budkevich
- North Caucasus Federal University, Stavropol, Russian Federation
| | - N P Oboturova
- North Caucasus Federal University, Stavropol, Russian Federation
| | - A I Okolelova
- Kuban State Agrarian University, Krasnodar, Russian Federation
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33
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Interleukin-1β Modulation of the Mechanobiology of Primary Human Pulmonary Fibroblasts: Potential Implications in Lung Repair. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228417. [PMID: 33182538 PMCID: PMC7696791 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1β (IL-1β) are upregulated during early responses to tissue damage and are expected to transiently compromise the mechanical microenvironment. Fibroblasts are key regulators of tissue mechanics in the lungs and other organs. However, the effects of IL-1β on fibroblast mechanics and functions remain unclear. Here we treated human pulmonary fibroblasts from control donors with IL-1β and used Atomic Force Microscopy to unveil that IL-1β significantly reduces the stiffness of fibroblasts concomitantly with a downregulation of filamentous actin (F-actin) and alpha-smooth muscle (α-SMA). Likewise, COL1A1 mRNA was reduced, whereas that of collagenases MMP1 and MMP2 were upregulated, favoring a reduction of type-I collagen. These mechanobiology changes were functionally associated with reduced proliferation and enhanced migration upon IL-1β stimulation, which could facilitate lung repair by drawing fibroblasts to sites of tissue damage. Our observations reveal that IL-1β may reduce local tissue rigidity by acting both intracellularly and extracellularly through the downregulation of fibroblast contractility and type I collagen deposition, respectively. These IL-1β-dependent mechanical effects may enhance lung repair further by locally increasing pulmonary tissue compliance to preserve normal lung distension and function. Moreover, our results support that IL-1β provides innate anti-fibrotic protection that may be relevant during the early stages of lung repair.
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34
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Garcia R. Nanomechanical mapping of soft materials with the atomic force microscope: methods, theory and applications. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:5850-5884. [PMID: 32662499 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00318b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Fast, high-resolution, non-destructive and quantitative characterization methods are needed to develop materials with tailored properties at the nanoscale or to understand the relationship between mechanical properties and cell physiology. This review introduces the state-of-the-art force microscope-based methods to map at high-spatial resolution the elastic and viscoelastic properties of soft materials. The experimental methods are explained in terms of the theories that enable the transformation of observables into material properties. Several applications in materials science, molecular biology and mechanobiology illustrate the scope, impact and potential of nanomechanical mapping methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Garcia
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
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35
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Massey AE, Doxtater KA, Yallapu MM, Chauhan SC. Biophysical changes caused by altered MUC13 expression in pancreatic cancer cells. Micron 2020; 130:102822. [PMID: 31927412 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2019.102822] [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: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancers in the United States. This is partly due to the difficulty in early detection of this disease as well as poor therapeutic responses to currently available regimens. Our previous reports suggest that mucin 13 (MUC13, a transmembrane mucin common to gastrointestinal cells) is aberrantly expressed in this disease state, and has been implicated with a worsened prognosis and an enhanced metastatic potential in PanCa. However, virtually no information currently exists to describe the biophysical ramifications of this protein. METHODS To demonstrate the biophysical effect of MUC13 in PanCa, we generated overexpressing and knockdown model cell lines for PanCa and subsequently subjected them to various biophysical experiments using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and cellular aggregation studies. RESULTS AFM-based nanoindentation data showed significant biophysical effects with MUC13 modulation in PanCa cells. The overexpression of MUC13 in Panc-1 cells led to an expected decrease in modulus, and a corresponding decrease in adhesion. With MUC13 knockdown, HPAF-II cells exhibited an increased modulus and adhesion. These results were confirmed with altered cell-cell adhesion as seen with aggregation assays. CONCLUSIONS MUC13 led to significant biophysical changes in PanCa cells and which exhibited characteristic phenotypic changes in cells demonstrated in previous work from our lab. This work gives insight into the use of biophysical measurements that could be used to help diagnose or monitor cancers as well as determine the effects of genetic alterations at a mechanical level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew E Massey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, United States; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX, 78504, United States
| | - Kyle A Doxtater
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, United States; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX, 78504, United States
| | - Murali M Yallapu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, United States; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX, 78504, United States; South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX, 78504, United States
| | - Subhash C Chauhan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, United States; Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX, 78504, United States; South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX, 78504, United States.
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36
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Soares H, Carmona B, Nolasco S, Viseu Melo L. Polarity in Ciliate Models: From Cilia to Cell Architecture. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:240. [PMID: 31681771 PMCID: PMC6813674 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tetrahymena and Paramecium are highly differentiated unicellular organisms with elaborated cortical patterns showing a regular arrangement of hundreds to thousands of basal bodies in longitudinal rows that extend from the anterior to the posterior region of the cell. Thus both ciliates exhibit a permanent antero–posterior axis and left–right asymmetry. This cell polarity is reflected in the direction of the structures nucleated around each basal body such as the ciliary rootlets. Studies in these ciliates showed that basal bodies assemble two types of cilia, the cortical cilia and the cilia of the oral apparatus, a complex structure specialized in food capture. These two cilia types display structural differences at their tip domain. Basal bodies possessing distinct compositions creating specialized landmarks are also present. Cilia might be expected to express and transmit polarities throughout signaling pathways given their recognized role in signal transduction. This review will focus on how local polarities in basal bodies/cilia are regulated and transmitted through cell division in order to maintain the global polarity and shape of these cells and locally constrain the interpretation of signals by different cilia. We will also discuss ciliates as excellent biological models to study development and morphogenetic mechanisms and their relationship with cilia diversity and function in metazoans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Soares
- Centro de Química e Bioquímica/Centro de Química Estrutural, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Bruno Carmona
- Centro de Química e Bioquímica/Centro de Química Estrutural, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sofia Nolasco
- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,CIISA-Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Luís Viseu Melo
- Physics Department and CEFEMA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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37
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Eaton P, do Amaral CP, Couto SCP, Oliveira MS, Vasconcelos AG, Borges TKS, Kückelhaus SAS, Leite JRSA, Muniz-Junqueira MI. Atomic Force Microscopy Is a Potent Technique to Study Eosinophil Activation. Front Physiol 2019; 10:1261. [PMID: 31632296 PMCID: PMC6781654 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Eosinophils are multifunctional cells with several functions both in healthy individuals, and those with several diseases. Increased number and morphological changes in eosinophils have been correlated with the severity of an acute asthma exacerbation. We measured eosinophils obtained from healthy controls and individuals with acute asthma using atomic force microscopy (AFM). In the control samples, cells showed more rounded morphologies with some spreading, while activated cells from symptomatic individuals were spreading, and presenting emission of multiple pseudopods. Eosinophils presenting separate granules close to the cells suggesting some degranulation was also increased in asthma samples. In comparison to histopathological techniques based on brightfield microscopy, AFM showed considerably more details of these morphological changes, making the technique much more sensitive to detect eosinophil morphological changes that indicate functional alteration of this cell. AFM could be an important tool to evaluate diseases with alterations in eosinophil functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Eaton
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Constança Pais do Amaral
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Shirley C P Couto
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Pathology Area, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Mariangela S Oliveira
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Pathology Area, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Andreanne G Vasconcelos
- Research Center in Morphology and Applied Immunology, Morphology Area, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Tatiana K S Borges
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Pathology Area, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Selma A S Kückelhaus
- Research Center in Morphology and Applied Immunology, Morphology Area, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - José Roberto S A Leite
- Research Center in Morphology and Applied Immunology, Morphology Area, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
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38
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High-Resolution Episcopic Microscopy (HREM): Looking Back on 13 Years of Successful Generation of Digital Volume Data of Organic Material for 3D Visualisation and 3D Display. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/app9183826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
High-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) is an imaging technique that permits the simple and rapid generation of three-dimensional (3D) digital volume data of histologically embedded and physically sectioned specimens. The data can be immediately used for high-detail 3D analysis of a broad variety of organic materials with all modern methods of 3D visualisation and display. Since its first description in 2006, HREM has been adopted as a method for exploring organic specimens in many fields of science, and it has recruited a slowly but steadily growing user community. This review aims to briefly introduce the basic principles of HREM data generation and to provide an overview of scientific publications that have been published in the last 13 years involving HREM imaging. The studies to which we refer describe technical details and specimen-specific protocols, and provide examples of the successful use of HREM in biological, biomedical and medical research. Finally, the limitations, potentials and anticipated further improvements are briefly outlined.
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