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Mechano-Node-Pore Sensing: A Rapid, Label-Free Platform for Multi-Parameter Single-Cell Viscoelastic Measurements
Published on: December 2, 2022
Photonic-crystal hydraulic manometry quantifies epithelial basal compression for rapid, label-free functional
Yifu Fu1,2, Qiwei Li1,2,3, Yuhan Cai1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, Jiangsu, China.
Science Advances
|August 14, 2026
Summary
We developed photonic-crystal hydraulic manometry (PCHM) to measure real-time epithelial mechanics. This new assay detects viral infections rapidly by monitoring changes in basal compression.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Polarized epithelia perform critical functions like barrier sealing and transport.
- Existing assays lack scalability and real-time measurement of coupled epithelial functions.
- Quantifying epithelial mechanical states is essential for understanding physiology and disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce photonic-crystal hydraulic manometry (PCHM) for real-time assessment of epithelial mechanical states.
- Establish basal compression as a key physiological variable.
- Develop a scalable, stain-free assay for epithelial pathophysiology and drug screening.
Main Methods:
- PCHM quantifies out-of-plane mechanical states using single-frame reflection images.
- Assessed sensitivity, dynamic range, and reversibility by perturbing ion transport and actomyosin contractility.
- Applied PCHM to detect viral infections (Coxsackievirus, SARS-CoV-2) and perform neutralization assays.
Main Results:
- Epithelial monolayers exhibit kilopascal-scale basal compression at the cell-substrate interface.
- PCHM detected early Coxsackievirus infection via basal compression collapse within 2 hours.
- PCHM provided rapid, consistent results in SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus neutralization and titration assays, improving sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- PCHM offers a scalable, real-time, stain-free method to link epithelial transport and mechanics.
- Basal compression is a sensitive indicator of epithelial health and response to infection.
- PCHM facilitates early disease detection and accelerates therapeutic screening for epithelial-associated conditions.
