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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 10: Postersession II
BP 10.32: Poster
Monday, March 12, 2018, 17:30–19:30, Poster C
Elasto-Tweezers: A novel platform for high-precision cell elasticity measurements — •Sebastian Knust1, Andy Sischka2, Hendrik Milting3, Bastien Venzac4, Séverine Le Gac4, Elwin Vrouwe5, and Dario Anselmetti1 — 1Experimental Biophysics and Applied Nanoscience, Faculty of Physics, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany — 2Ionovation GmbH, Osnabrück, Germany — 3Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, Ruhr University of Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany — 4Amber, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands — 5Micronit Microtechnologies B.V., Enschede, The Netherlands
The correct mechano-elastic properties of human cells are essential for their health and function. However, certain diseases like some cancers and cardiomyopathies alter those properties. High-throughput and high-resolution measurements of cell elasticities can therefore be used to provide insights into the pathomechanisms of these diseases.
We are able to directly measure both the forces applied to the cell with piconewton resolution and the cell deformation with sub-micrometre resolution by using a dual-beam optical tweezers setup with video-based force detection and coupling of functionalised beads to the cell surface. This allows all elasticity measurements with superior resolution compared to other techniques like optical stretchers.
To achieve high-throughput measurements, this novel setup will be combined with custom-designed microfluidical cartridges to facilitate automated and reliable formation of cell-bead complexes to perform completely automated measurements of up to 600 cells per hour.