Chim, Y. H., Mason, L. M., Rath, N., Olson, M. F. , Tassieri, M. and Yin, H. (2018) A one-step procedure to probe the viscoelastic properties of cells by Atomic Force Microscopy. Scientific Reports, 8, 14462. (doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-32704-8) (PMID:30262873) (PMCID:PMC6160452)
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Abstract
The increasingly recognised importance of viscoelastic properties of cells in pathological conditions requires rapid development of advanced cell microrheology technologies. Here, we present a novel Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)-microrheology (AFM2) method for measuring the viscoelastic properties in living cells, over a wide range of continuous frequencies (0.005 Hz ~ 200 Hz), from a simple stress-relaxation nanoindentation. Experimental data were directly analysed without the need for pre-conceived viscoelastic models. We show the method had an excellent agreement with conventional oscillatory bulk-rheology measurements in gels, opening a new avenue for viscoelastic characterisation of soft matter using minute quantity of materials (or cells). Using this capability, we investigate the viscoelastic responses of cells in association with cancer cell invasive activity modulated by two important molecular regulators (i.e. mutation of the p53 gene and Rho kinase activity). The analysis of elastic (G′(ω)) and viscous (G″(ω)) moduli of living cells has led to the discovery of a characteristic transitions of the loss tangent (G″(ω)/G′(ω)) in the low frequency range (0.005 Hz ~ 0.1 Hz) that is indicative of the capability for cell restructuring of F-actin network. Our method is ready to be implemented in conventional AFMs, providing a simple yet powerful tool for measuring the viscoelastic properties of living cells.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Yin, Professor Huabing and Mason, Dr Louise and Tassieri, Dr Manlio and Rath, Dr Nicola and Chim, Miss Ya Hua and Olson, Professor Michael |
| Authors: | Chim, Y. H., Mason, L. M., Rath, N., Olson, M. F., Tassieri, M., and Yin, H. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering |
| Journal Name: | Scientific Reports |
| Publisher: | Nature Publishing Group |
| ISSN: | 2045-2322 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2045-2322 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2018 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Scientific Reports: 8:14462 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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