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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 5, 2025

Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events

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Published on: August 27, 2019

4D Force Detection of Cell Adhesion and Contractility.

Nafsika Chala¹, Xinyu Zhang², Tomaso Zambelli²

¹Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.

|March 28, 2023

Summary

This study introduces an integrated force probing system to precisely measure how human cells transmit mechanical forces. This new method allows detailed investigation into cellular responses to external mechanical stimuli.

Keywords:

FluidFM actomyosin contractility cell compression single-cell force spectroscopy traction force microscopy

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Last Updated: Aug 5, 2025

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Fluorescence Biomembrane Force Probe: Concurrent Quantitation of Receptor-ligand Kinetics and Binding-induced Intracellular Signaling on a Single Cell

Fluorescence Biomembrane Force Probe: Concurrent Quantitation of Receptor-ligand Kinetics and Binding-induced Intracellular Signaling on a Single Cell

Published on: August 4, 2015

Area of Science:

Cellular Mechanobiology
Biophysics
Biomaterials

Background:

Mammalian cells communicate with their environment via mechanical signals.
Cells transmit forces through focal adhesions and respond to external stimuli on their free surface.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and demonstrate an integrated force probing approach for measuring mechanical force transmission in individual cells.
To investigate cellular adaptation mechanisms to external mechanical stimuli with high temporal and spatial resolution.

Main Methods:

Collaborative employment of Fluidic Force Microscopy (FFM) and confocal Traction Force Microscopy (TFT).
Utilizing the Cellogram solver for data analysis.
Applying controlled vertical forces to the cell's free surface and mapping force transmission to the substrate.

Main Results:

Achieved unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution in measuring force transmission across human cells.
Demonstrated a powerful integrated system for precise force interrogation of individual cells.
Enabled population-based analysis of cellular force responses.

Conclusions:

The developed system offers facile and precise force interrogation of individual cells.
Provides insights into cellular mechanisms of adaptation to mechanical stimuli.
Facilitates investigation of force transmission dynamics in cellular mechanobiology.