Atomic Force Microscopy-based Platform for Investigating Single Cell Mechanics
The main advantage of cell compression method is reliability of data. Individual cell biology is described by statistical parameters rather than by results of single experiment. Cell compression method allows compressing up to 50 cells per hour in situ providing an easy statistical analysis of cell mechanical behavior. This method also requires minimum modification of widely used AFM setup, and therefore is inexpensive.
Cell biology Tissue analysis Biosensoring
Researchers at UC Davis have invented a new methodology to measure single cell mechanics. The new method utilizes atomic force microscopy (AFM) to perform single cell compression. Large sphere glued to the end of AFM probe compresses cell with independent displacement and force detection in wide range from 1 nN up to 50 µN. A high-resolution bright field or fluorescent microscopy guides the location of the probe and monitors the deformation of cell and cell organelles during the load cycle. Many previously developed methods probe only limited local deformation of membrane providing knowledge about local membrane properties. In contrast, in our scheme the indenter compresses the whole cell for 100%. In developed method whole cell compression together with optical recording of compression cycle contains information about membrane and cytoskeleton structure, integrity of cell, cell sensitivity to chemical treatment or gene over expression and cell viability. Images Schematic of developed methodic Side view schematic of developed methodic Bottom view of compressed cell. Numbers represent relative cell compression.
Patent Number: US8323920B2
Application Number: US2008301685A
Inventor: Liulevych, Valentyn | Liu, Gang-yu
Priority Date: 26 Jun 2006
Priority Number: US8323920B2
Application Date: 20 Nov 2008
Publication Date: 4 Dec 2012
IPC Current: C12Q000102 | C12Q000100
US Class: 435029 | 435004
Assignee Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Title: Method and system for measuring single cell mechanics using a modified scanning probe microscope
Usefulness: Method and system for measuring single cell mechanics using a modified scanning probe microscope
Summary: The method and system are useful for measuring single cell mechanics using a scanning probe microscope.
Novelty: Measuring single cell mechanics using modified scanning probe microscope comprises extracting mechanical properties of the cell from cell deformation behavior and cell response to the compression force
Biomedical
DNA/Gene Engineering
8323920
Additional Technologies by these Inventors Tech ID/UC Case 11266/2006-727-0 Related Cases 2006-727-0
USA
