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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 27: Posters: Complex Fluids and Soft Matter

BP 27.4: Poster

Dienstag, 17. März 2015, 14:00–16:00, Poster A

Micropipette force sensors for biomechanics and soft matter adhesion studies — •Marcin M. Makowski and Oliver Baeumchen — Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS), 37077 Goettingen, Germany

The precise determination of acting forces is fundamentally important for the characterization of mechanical properties of soft matter and biological processes, e.g. cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions. Optical or magnetic tweezers as well as AFM force probes can provide quantitative information on the interactions of objects such as e.g. single molecules and bacteria. However, these techniques are very much limited to objects within a certain force and size range. Inspired by the work of Colbert et al. (EPJE 30, 117, 2009), we developed a micropipette deflection technique which is capable of quantifying forces down to the pN level (and up to mN) of objects of the size of µm (and up to mm), that are attached via a small negative pressure within the micropipette. As it is purely based on optical high-resolution (and eventually high-speed) imaging involving image cross-correlation analysis, the technique additionally allows for quantitative force-shape correlations and, e.g. in adhesion and friction studies, a direct access to the area of contact. Here, we present force spectroscopy measurements of vesicle adhesion on hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates, based on micropipette force sensors.