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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Quantifying the Mechanical Properties of the Endothelial Glycocalyx with Atomic Force Microscopy

Quantifying the Mechanical Properties of the Endothelial Glycocalyx with Atomic Force Microscopy

Published on: February 21, 2013

Mechano-sensing and transduction by endothelial surface glycocalyx: composition, structure, and function.

Bingmei M Fu¹, John M Tarbell

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA. fu@ccny.cuny.edu

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Systems Biology and Medicine

|February 13, 2013

Summary

The endothelial surface glycocalyx (ESG) acts as a crucial mechano-sensor in blood vessels. This study reveals its role in endothelial cell responses to blood flow forces.

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Last Updated: May 14, 2026

Quantifying the Mechanical Properties of the Endothelial Glycocalyx with Atomic Force Microscopy

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Modeling the Endothelial Glycocalyx Post-Pneumonectomy in a 3D Fluidic Chip - An Approach to Fabricating a Vascular-based Organ-on-Chip System

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Published on: September 16, 2025

Area of Science:

Cardiovascular Biology
Cellular Mechanics
Biophysics

Background:

Endothelial cells (ECs) are vital for circulatory homeostasis, sensing blood flow forces.
Various mechano-sensors exist on ECs, with the endothelial surface glycocalyx (ESG) being a recent focus.
The ESG is a luminal layer of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans influencing EC function.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of the endothelial surface glycocalyx (ESG) in endothelial cell mechano-sensing and transduction.
To characterize the structure and mechanical properties of the ESG.
To elucidate how ESG components contribute to EC responses to hemodynamic forces.

Main Methods:

Electron microscopy (EM) for ESG substructure analysis.
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical tweezers for mechanical property assessment.
Enzymatic degradation of ESG components to measure nitric oxide and prostacyclin production.

Main Results:

ESG exhibits a quasi-periodic substructure with specific fiber diameters and spacing.
Mechanical properties of ESG were quantified using AFM and optical tweezers.
ESG degradation altered shear-induced nitric oxide and prostacyclin production in ECs.

Conclusions:

The endothelial surface glycocalyx (ESG) is a key player in endothelial mechano-sensing and signal transduction.
ESG's unique structure and composition are critical for its mechanosensory function.
Understanding ESG's role is essential for comprehending circulatory system homeostasis and disease.