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Non-Invasive Nanometer Resolution Assessment of Cell-Soft Hydrogel System Mechanical Properties by Scanning Ion
Tatiana N Tikhonova1, Anastasia V Barkovaya1, Yuri M Efremov2
1Department of Physics, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1/2 Leninskie Gory, 119991 Moscow, Russia.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|January 8, 2025
Summary
Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) measured the mechanical properties of MCF-7 breast cancer cells on biomimetic hydrogels. Cell softening was observed on softer substrates due to cytoskeletal changes.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Cellular Mechanics
- Biophysics
Background:
- Biomimetic hydrogels are promising for tissue engineering and drug delivery.
- Accurate mechanical evaluation of hydrogels is crucial for their application.
- Assessing cell-substrate interactions requires precise mechanical characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) for evaluating the mechanical properties of MCF-7 breast cancer cells on soft peptide hydrogels.
- To investigate the effect of substrate stiffness on cell mechanics.
- To understand the relationship between cell mechanical properties and cytoskeletal changes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) to map Young's modulus distribution of MCF-7 cells.
- Grew MCF-7 cells on substrates of varying stiffness: Petri dish, Fmoc-FF hydrogel, and Fmoc-FF/chitosan hydrogel.
- Employed atomic force microscopy (AFM) for comparative analysis and a composite cell-substrate (CoCS) model to analyze results.
Main Results:
- SICM successfully determined Young's modulus distribution and core location in MCF-7 cells.
- MCF-7 cell Young's modulus decreased with substrate softening (1050 Pa on Petri dish, 835 Pa on Fmoc-FF, 600 Pa on Fmoc-FF/chitosan).
- SICM and AFM results showed good agreement, supporting the CoCS model's validity.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates SICM's capability for precise mechanical evaluation of cells on soft biomaterials.
- Softer hydrogel substrates induce MCF-7 cell softening, attributed to cytoskeletal property variations.
- Findings offer insights into cell-scaffold interactions, crucial for designing effective tissue engineering scaffolds.
