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Fiber-Tip Shear Force Probe for Single-Cell Adhesion Force Measurements
Mengqiang Zou1, Yanping Chen1, Yu Liu1
1Chongqing Key Laboratory of Autonomous Navigation and Microsystems, Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Sensing Technology and Microsystem, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, China.
A novel fiber-tip shear force probe (FSFP) enables label-free, accurate single-cell adhesion force measurement. This flexible, fast microforce sensor offers new possibilities for cell biology research.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Single-cell adhesion is vital in cell biology.
- Existing methods like AFM have limitations (complexity, labeling).
- Accurate measurement under physiological conditions is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a miniature fiber-tip shear force probe (FSFP) for precise single-cell adhesion force measurement.
- To overcome limitations of current cell adhesion measurement techniques.
- To enable label-free and in-situ analysis of cell adhesion dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Designed and fabricated a shear force probe integrated onto a single-mode fiber tip using femtosecond laser two-photon polymerization.
- Established the relationship between FSFP spectral output and applied force.
- Measured single-cell adhesion forces of MCF-7 breast cancer cells on different substrates.
Main Results:
- Achieved high microforce sensitivity (2.81 nm/μN) and a minimal detectable force of 7.1 nN.
- Demonstrated greater cell adhesion on stiffer glass substrates compared to polymer substrates.
- Observed a >2-fold decrease in adhesion force after trypsin stimulation.
- Correlated cell morphology (shuttle shape) and actin distribution with substrate stiffness.
Conclusions:
- The miniature FSFP provides a flexible, fast, and label-free method for accurate single-cell adhesion force measurement.
- This technology opens new avenues for single-cell analysis under physiological conditions.
- Findings highlight the influence of substrate stiffness and enzymatic treatment on cell adhesion.
