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Related Experiment Videos

Measuring cell forces by a photoelastic method.

Adam Curtis1, Lucia Sokolikova-Csaderova, Gregor Aitchison

  • 1Centre for Cell Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom. a.curtis@bio.gla.ac.uk

Biophysical Journal
|December 26, 2006
PubMed
Summary
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Researchers developed a novel method to measure cellular forces using a photoelastic substratum and polarizing microscopy. This technique quantifies pN-level forces exerted by cells on their surroundings, revealing insights into cell-cell interactions.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular mechanics
  • Biophysics
  • Materials science

Background:

  • Understanding cellular forces is crucial for cell adhesion, migration, and tissue development.
  • Previous methods lacked the sensitivity and temporal resolution to capture dynamic cellular force exertion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce a new method for measuring mechanical forces exerted by cells on a substratum.
  • To quantify the magnitude and dynamics of cellular forces.
  • To investigate how cells transmit forces to their environment and potentially to other cells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing a photoelastic substratum (polydimethylsiloxane coated with fibronectin).
  • Employing a computer-controlled polarizing microscope (Polscope) to measure changes in birefringence.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Calibrating stress to quantify forces from 1 pN/µm² with a time resolution of ~1 second.

    • Main Results:

    • Cells exert forces of 10-1000 pN per cell on the substratum.
    • Cellular force exertion is dynamic, with rapid changes observed within seconds.
    • Forces appear concentrated near the lamellipodium base and are exerted laterally.
    • Cell movement induces strains in nearby cells, suggesting force transmission.

    Conclusions:

    • The developed method provides sensitive, real-time measurement of cellular mechanical forces.
    • Cells actively exert significant forces on their environment, influencing neighboring cells.
    • Cellular forces are dynamic and localized, particularly at the lamellipodium.