Double Sided Traction Force Microscopy: A Method to Confine Cells for Physiologically Relevant Force Measurements

In this paper we describe a technique to make a confined environment of variable stiffness that is suitable for high-resolution live-cell imaging. This versatile and adaptable technique enables cell confinement between soft elastic surfaces made from polyacrylamide gels. The two surfaces retain all their compatibility with multiple approaches to chemically couple adhesion proteins, and additional techniques like micropatterning and traction force microscopy. This method is thus well suited for measuring force production and migration of weakly adherent cells that struggle to migrate in traditional planar environments.