Regensburg 2016 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 37: Cell Mechanics and Migration

BP 37.5: Vortrag

Mittwoch, 9. März 2016, 10:45–11:00, H44

Elastic Resonator Stress Microscopy (ERISM) – A Novel Tool for Cell-Mechanical Investigations — •Philipp Liehm, Nils M. Kronenberg, Anja Steude, Andrew Morton, and Malte C. Gather — School of Physics & Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, UK

We present a novel cell force sensing technique based on an elastic optical micro-cavity. By measuring the spatially resolved interference pattern of a deformed micro-cavity, we are able to accurately detect vertical displacements with resolution in the nm range. Integrated into a conventional inverted fluorescence microscope, our technique can easily be combined with phase contrast and fluorescence imaging. The low light intensity required for readout, enables long-term measurements — over periods as long as several days — without any photo-toxic effects on the cells. ERISM does not require detaching the cells after a measurement, thus allowing continuous data acquisition for hundreds of cells at different positions on one sensor (substrate). The wide-field character of the measurement permits high frame rates (< 2 s per frame) and thus enables tracking fast cell movement. The local deformations are evaluated with a Finite Element Method (FEM) to obtain local stress information.

In this presentation we will give an introduction to this new micro-cavity based sensor concept. Furthermore, we show data on the mechanical characterization of the elastic micro-cavity with an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). Finally, we apply our technique to a wide range of different cell types including neuroglia.