Imaging Cellular Forces with Photonic Crystals

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2023 Nov 14

PMID 37963911

Authors

Qiwei Li

Zaozao Chen

Ying Zhang

Shuang Ding

Haibo Ding

Luping Wang

Zhuoying Xie

Yifu Fu

Mengxiao Wei

Shengnan Liu

Jialun Chen

Xuan Wang

Zhongze Gu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Current techniques for visualizing and quantifying cellular forces have limitations in live cell imaging, throughput, and multi-scale analysis, which impede progress in cell force research and its practical applications. We developed a photonic crystal cellular force microscopy (PCCFM) to image vertical cell forces over a wide field of view (1.3 mm ⨯ 1.0 mm, a 10 ⨯ objective image) at high speed (about 20 frames per second) without references. The photonic crystal hydrogel substrate (PCS) converts micro-nano deformations into perceivable color changes, enabling in situ visualization and quantification of tiny vertical cell forces with high throughput. It enabled long-term, cross-scale monitoring from subcellular focal adhesions to tissue-level cell sheets and aggregates.

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