Imaging cellular forces with photonic crystals

Qiwei Li; Zaozao Chen; Ying Zhang; Shuang Ding; Haibo Ding; Luping Wang; Zhuoying Xie; Yifu Fu; Mengxiao Wei; Shengnan Liu; Jialun Chen; Xuan Wang; Zhongze Gu

doi:10.1038/s41467-023-43090-9

Nature Communications (Nov 2023)

Imaging cellular forces with photonic crystals

Qiwei Li,
Zaozao Chen,
Ying Zhang,
Shuang Ding,
Haibo Ding,
Luping Wang,
Zhuoying Xie,
Yifu Fu,
Mengxiao Wei,
Shengnan Liu,
Jialun Chen,
Xuan Wang,
Zhongze Gu

Affiliations

Qiwei Li: State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University
Zaozao Chen: State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University
Ying Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University
Shuang Ding: State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University
Haibo Ding: State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University
Luping Wang: State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University
Zhuoying Xie: State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University
Yifu Fu: State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University
Mengxiao Wei: State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University
Shengnan Liu: State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University
Jialun Chen: State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University
Xuan Wang: State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University
Zhongze Gu: State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43090-9
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 14

Abstract

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Abstract Current techniques for visualizing and quantifying cellular forces have limitations in live cell imaging, throughput, and multi-scale analysis, which impede progress in cell force research and its practical applications. We developed a photonic crystal cellular force microscopy (PCCFM) to image vertical cell forces over a wide field of view (1.3 mm ⨯ 1.0 mm, a 10 ⨯ objective image) at high speed (about 20 frames per second) without references. The photonic crystal hydrogel substrate (PCS) converts micro-nano deformations into perceivable color changes, enabling in situ visualization and quantification of tiny vertical cell forces with high throughput. It enabled long-term, cross-scale monitoring from subcellular focal adhesions to tissue-level cell sheets and aggregates.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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