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High-speed force mapping on living cells with a small cantilever atomic force microscope
Christoph Braunsmann1, Jan Seifert1, Johannes Rheinlaender1
1Institute of Applied Physics and LISA+, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|August 3, 2014
Summary
We enhanced atomic force microscopy (AFM) speed for faster mechanical measurements on soft biological samples. This breakthrough allows real-time observation of dynamic cellular processes in living cells.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is crucial for quantitative mechanical measurements on soft samples in liquid.
- Current AFM force mapping speed is limited by z-scanner bandwidth and cantilever viscous drag.
- Observing dynamic cellular processes requires faster imaging techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To significantly increase the imaging speed of AFM force mapping.
- To enable the observation of dynamic processes in living cells at high resolution.
- To investigate the mechanical properties of cells during dynamic events.
Main Methods:
- Utilized high-speed, large scan-range AFM with small cantilevers.
- Increased force curve acquisition rates from 2 Hz to 300 Hz.
- Applied the enhanced AFM technique to living mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
Main Results:
- Achieved an approximate 10-100 fold increase in force mapping speed.
- Successfully resolved dynamic processes including cytoskeleton reorganization, cell locomotion, and blebbing.
- Observed the formation of endocytic pits in the cell membrane.
- Noted a ~10-fold increase in apparent Young's modulus with increased force curve rates.
Conclusions:
- The developed high-speed AFM method overcomes previous limitations in imaging speed.
- This technique allows for unprecedented real-time visualization of cellular dynamics.
- The findings highlight the importance of measurement speed in determining cell mechanical properties.
