Berlin 2015 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 16: Posters: Cell adhesion, mechanics and migration

BP 16.4: Poster

Monday, March 16, 2015, 17:30–19:30, Poster A

Spreading and force generation of blood platelet dynamics on soft and structured substrates — •Jana Hanke, Rabea Sandmann, and Sarah Köster — Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Germany

Blood platelets play a crucial role in wound closure by attaching to the wounded site and spreading over it to form a temporary seal. Not only do they encounter wounded sites of different stiffness and topography, they also are the first cells to get in contact with (nanostructured) implants. To examine the influences of these cues, we perform live cell experiments on soft substrates and on substrates containing micrometer sized holes. By comparing spreading dynamics on microstructured and on flat substrates, we show that although the final spread area is maintained, platelets show an adaptation of spreading to the underlying substrate. By following cellular protrusions over time, we find that the number of filopodia influences the adaptation to the substrate suggesting that the pathways of spreading (via filopodia/lamellipodia) influences how well the platelets can cope with the underlying substrate. In order to study stiffness dependent force generation, we perform time-resolved Traction Force Microscopy (TFM). As blood platelets are much smaller than other cells that have been studied so far by TFM, it is important adjust both the experimental set-up as well as the analysis. To this end, the imaging resolution has to be enhanced by means of optical set-up, beads size and density. The analysis is performed by a combination of Particle Image Velocimetry, Lagrangian particle tracking and Fourier Transform Traction Cytometry.