Single Cell Force Spectroscopy (SFSC) Use Cases with FluidFM®

 With FluidFM micro-channeled probed, conduct SCFS experiments without the need of irreversible immobilization.

Read more about SCFS with FluidFM

In single-cell force spectroscopy (SCFS), researchers measure the forces between individual cells or between cells and surfaces, providing valuable insights into cell interactions and behavior. Traditionally, this technique involves immobilizing or gluing a cell to an AFM cantilever, which can be invasive and irreversible. FluidFM technology revolutionizes SCFS by utilizing micro-channeled probes that allow for non-invasive, reversible cell manipulation, eliminating the need for permanent immobilization and enhancing experimental flexibility and accuracy.

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High Throughput

measure up to 200 cells a day using semi-automated workflows

Broad Force Range

Direct force measurement from pN up to µN

Many Cell Types & Colloids

For mammalian cells, microbes, and colloids

Study of tumor progression and metastasis with cell-cell adhesion forces

Study with a Nanosurf Flex-FPM by Dr. Noa Cohen, group of Prof. Tanya Konry, Northeastern University in Boston, on cell-cell adhesion forces to gain more insights into tumor progression and metastasis (Cohen et al., 2017):

FluidFM Mechanobiology - Cell-cell adhesion (Data/image courtesy of Tanya Konry group, Northeastern University, Boston, USA)

Data/image courtesy of Tanya Konry group, Northeastern University, Boston, USA. Optical images showing: (A) a single cell to be picked up by a FluidFM Probe (B) the cell aspired to the cantilever and (C) the FluidFM Probe with aspired cell during a cell-cell adhesion measurement.

FluidFM Mechanobiology - Cell-cell adhesion (Data/image courtesy of Tanya Konry group, Northeastern University, Boston, USA)

Data/image courtesy of Tanya Konry group, Northeastern University, Boston, USA. (A) Typical force curves between a MCF7 cell aspired to the cantilever and non-cancerous, fibroblast (HS5) on the substrate at different contact times. (B) Development of the force with contact time between the cells.

Cell adhesion measurements

Cell adhesion measurement at Harvard Center for Nanoscale Systems with a Nanosurf AFM.


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Video courtesy of Nanosurf AG.

Quantification of cell - surface interaction

 
 

Original video length ~10 min. Video courtesy of Bruker.

The interaction of a H431 cell is being quantified against the surface on a 8x8 array. The experiment was conducted with a Bruker BioScope Resolve and a FluidFM micropipette.

Colloidal spectroscopy of HeLa cells

A colloid is picked up by FluidFM and used to probe a living cell and create a force map. The FluidFM microfluidic control is fully integrated into the AFM software.

  • Left image: Map of Young's modulus (blue area is on glass.
  • Right image: Approach curves (force in nN versus tip-sample distance in µm) for the locations indicted with a star on the left: on glass (blue), harder cell areas (orange) and softer cell areas (black).
     
FluidFM Mechanobiology - Colloidal spectroscopy of HeLa cells (Image courtesy of Nanosurf AG)

Image courtesy of Nanosurf AG.

Pick up of a bead for force mapping on living cells

A colloid is picked up by a FluidFM Probe and used to measure a force map on a living cell. The FluidFM microfluidic control is fully integrated into the AFM software. 

 
 

Original video length ~9 min. Video courtesy of Bruker. The bead is held with -400 mbar while the measurement takes place. The video shows a full force map cycle.

FluidFM Mechanobiology - Colloidal spectroscopy (Image courtesy of Bruker)

Image courtesy of Bruker. Phase contrast image of living vero cells, the FluidFM micropipette and 11 µm polystyrene bead before (a), during (b) and after pickup (c). (d) Overlay of optical image with Height map using the polystyrene bead. (e, f) Height and apparent stiffness map of two cells. 

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