基于AFM单细胞力谱技术的淋巴瘤细胞黏附力测量（英文）

细胞黏附在细胞生理功能中起着重要的调控作用,对细胞黏附行为进行定量研究有助于理解生命活动内在机制.原子力显微镜(AFM)的出现为研究溶液环境下微纳尺度生物系统的生物物理特性提供了强大工具,特别是AFM单细胞力谱(SCFS)技术可以对单细胞黏附力进行测量.但目前利用SCFS技术进行的研究主要集中在贴壁细胞,对于动物悬浮细胞黏附行为进行的研究还较为缺乏.本文利用AFM单细胞力谱技术(SCFS)对淋巴瘤细胞黏附行为进行了定量测量.研究了淋巴瘤细胞与其单克隆抗体药物利妥昔(利妥昔单抗与淋巴瘤细胞表面的CD20结合后激活免疫攻击)之间的黏附力,分析了利妥昔浓度及SCFS测量参数对黏附力的影响,并对淋巴瘤细胞之间的黏附力进行了测量.实验结果证明了SCFS技术探测动物悬浮细胞黏附行为的能力,加深了对淋巴瘤细胞黏附作用的认识,为单细胞尺度下生物力学探测提供了新的可能.     

结合原子力显微镜和光学图像识别的单细胞力学特性快速测量研究

目的 细胞力学特性在生理病理变化过程中起着关键调控作用,开展细胞力学特性研究为揭示生命活动奥秘及疾病发生发展演变规律提供了新的视角。原子力显微镜（AFM）的出现为单细胞力学特性研究提供了强大的技术手段。AFM的独特优势是不需要对活细胞进行任何预处理即可在溶液环境下对天然状态的活细胞力学特性进行高精度（纳米级空间分辨率,皮牛级力感知灵敏度）探测。基于AFM压痕实验的细胞力学特性探测已成为生命科学领域的重要研究方法。然而,现有基于AFM的单细胞力学特性测量主要依赖于人工操作,特别是在测量过程中需要人工控制AFM探针移动到细胞表面特定位置进行压痕实验,导致实验过程耗时费力且效率低下。本文通过将AFM与光学图像自动识别相结合建立了单细胞力学特性快速测量方法。方法 分别利用UNet++深度学习网络模型和模板匹配算法识别出光学图像中的细胞及AFM探针,在此基础上自动确定细胞和AFM探针之间的空间位置关系,并控制AFM探针准确移动至目标细胞表面进行压痕实验。在光学显微镜视觉导引下利用AFM微操作将单个微球黏附至AFM探针悬臂梁制作得到球形针尖探针。选取HEK 293（人胚胎肾细胞）和MCF-7（人乳腺癌细胞）两种细胞进行实验。利用Hertz-Sneddon模型对在细胞表面获取的力曲线进行分析得到细胞杨氏模量。结果 基于光学图像识别结果可将AFM探针针尖准确移动至目标细胞（HEK 293或MCF-7）并对细胞力学特性进行测量,同时实验结果表明本文所提出的方法不仅适用于常规AFM锥形针尖探针,也适用于AFM球形针尖探针。结论 将AFM与光学图像识别结合显著提升了AFM细胞力学特性测量效率,为高通量自动化AFM单细胞力学特性探测提供了新的方法和思路,对于细胞力学特性研究具有广泛的积极意义。     

深度学习图像识别辅助原子力显微镜单细胞力学特性精准高效探测

目的 原子力显微镜（AFM）的出现为生命科学研究提供了强大工具,特别是AFM压痕实验技术已成为细胞力学特性探测的重要方法,从单细胞尺度为生理病理活动过程带来了大量新的认识,是对传统生化集群平均研究方法的有力补充。然而现有AFM压痕实验技术存在着依赖人工、效率低下等不足,严重制约了其在生命科学领域的实际应用。本文通过将光学显微成像自动目标识别技术与AFM压痕技术结合,建立了单个游离态细胞及聚团生长细胞的力学特性精准高效测量方法。方法 利用YOLO深度学习算法识别出光学图像中细胞的中心部位,并通过嵌入视觉转换器（ViT）模块的双UNet神经网络模型对细胞边缘部位进行精确分割,同时采用模板匹配算法对光学图像中AFM微球探针进行定位,在此基础上自动确定AFM探针上的微球针尖与细胞不同部位之间的空间位置关系,进而对细胞中心部位和边缘部位的力学特性进行快速测量。选取HEK 293（人胚胎肾细胞）和HGC-27（人未分化胃癌细胞）两种细胞进行验证实验,并利用Hertz模型对获取的力曲线进行分析以得到细胞杨氏模量。结果 在深度学习光学图像自动识别导引下可将AFM探针准确移动至细胞不同部位（中心和边缘）进行力学特性测量,同时实验结果表明,本文提出的方法不仅可对单个游离态细胞进行可靠测量,也适用于聚团生长的细胞。结论 深度学习图像识别在辅助AFM单细胞力学特性精准高效探测方面具有巨大潜力,将深度学习图像识别与AFM结合有助于发展面向生物医学应用的高通量单细胞力学特性测量方法。     

国产利妥昔单抗治疗弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤的疗效及安全性

摘要 目的：探讨弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤患者采用国产利妥昔单抗为基础的化疗方案的疗效及安全性。方法：回顾性分析2020年3月至2022年5月份在安徽省第二人民医院血液内科诊治的弥漫大B淋巴瘤患者31例,均接受国产利妥昔单抗为基础的联合方案化疗,其中非生发中心来源的弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤患者25例,生发中心来源的弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤患者6例。21~28 d为一个疗程,这些患者至少接受2~8个疗程的联合化疗,并且2个疗程以后进行疗效评估及不良反应监测。结果：①本研究31例弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤患者接受利妥昔单抗为基础的联合化疗方案治疗后,疗效评估为完全缓解CR 16例（51.6%）,部分缓解PR 10例（32.3%）,疾病稳定SD 2例（6.5%）,疾病进展PD 3例（9.7%）,总体反应率ORR 83.9%。②31例弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤患者接受国产利妥昔单抗治疗后,常见的不良反应发生率依次为：血液学毒性29.0%（9/31）,包括中性粒细胞减少、血小板减少等等。其次为感染19.4%（6/31）、消化道症状16.1%（5/31）,包括腹痛、腹泻、便秘等等。所有常见不良反应经过对症处理后均可好转。仅有1例患者发生过敏反应3.2%（1/31）,1例患者因病情严重而死亡。结论：国产利妥昔单抗在弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤患者的治疗中具有良好的临床疗效及安全性,不良反应较少,值得进一步探讨和应用。     

基于多参数成像AFM的细胞及分子力学特性探测研究进展

原子力显微镜(AFM)的发明为微纳尺度下高分辨率探测天然状态生物样本的物理特性提供了强大工具,是对传统生化特性检测方法的有力补充.近年来,多参数成像模式AFM的出现使得人们不仅可以获取生物样本表面形貌特征,还能同时获取生物样本多种力学特性图(如杨氏模量、黏附力、形变等),为研究生物结构、力学特性及其生理功能之间的关联提供了新的技术手段.多参数成像AFM的生物医学应用研究为细胞/分子生理活动及相关疾病内在机理带来了大量新的认识.本文结合作者在AFM细胞探测方面的研究工作,介绍了多参数成像AFM工作原理,总结了多参数成像AFM在细胞及分子力学特性探测方面的研究进展,并对其存在的问题进行了讨论和展望.     

基于原子力显微镜的溶液流动环境下癌细胞力学特性测量研究

目的 细胞力学特性在细胞生理病理活动过程中起着重要的调控作用，开展细胞力学特性研究对于揭示生命活动内在规律具有重要意义。原子力显微镜（AFM）的发明为单细胞力学特性表征提供了新的强大工具，基于AFM压痕分析的细胞力学特性探测已成为生命科学领域的重要研究方法，为单细胞行为研究带来了大量新认识。然而，现有基于AFM的细胞力学特性研究主要集中在静态溶液环境，而癌细胞在体内转移过程中处于脉管系统的动态液流环境下，因此现有的测量结果无法完全反映溶液流动环境下的癌细胞真实生理行为，特别是目前对于肿瘤转移过程中液流环境与癌细胞之间相互作用的力学机制的认知还十分有限。本文通过将AFM与液流控制技术结合建立了溶液流动环境下的细胞力学特性测量方法。方法 基于两侧开口培养皿并结合注射泵/抽取泵液流控制搭建细胞培养基动态液流系统，并将其分别与AFM及光学倒置显微镜进行集成。选取MCF-7（人乳腺癌细胞）和HGC-27（人未分化胃癌细胞）两种癌细胞进行实验。利用细胞培养基动态液流系统培养细胞并分析溶液流速以及流动时间对细胞生长及力学特性的影响。在光学显微镜导引下控制AFM对培养基静态/流动环境下生长的细胞进行压痕实验以获取力曲线，并利用Hertz-Sneddon模型对力曲线进行分析得到细胞杨氏模量。利用荧光染色试剂分析溶液流动环境对细胞活性及细胞骨架蛋白的影响。结果 首先分析了溶液流动环境对细胞生长的影响，实验结果表明，与静态培养环境相比，培养基动态液流环境可更好地促进细胞生长。随后分别对静态和流动环境下生长的癌细胞力学特性进行了测量，结果表明当癌细胞生长环境由静态变为动态后细胞的杨氏模量显著减小，且溶液流动环境会导致细胞骨架结构的变化，显示了溶液流动环境对癌细胞力学特性的显著影响。结论 将AFM与液流控制技术结合可对溶液流动环境下的单细胞力学特性进行探测，为研究溶液流动环境与癌细胞之间的相互作用提供了新的方法和思路。     

利妥昔单抗联合化疗治疗非霍奇金淋巴瘤的药物经济学评价

目的：系统评价利妥昔单抗联合化疗治疗非霍奇金淋巴瘤的药物经济学价值。方法：用计算机检索PubMed、ScienceDirect、Springer Link、Elsevier 等英文数据库以及CNKI、维普、万方等中文数据库1998—2013 年间公开发表的利妥昔单抗联合化疗治疗非霍奇金淋巴瘤的药物经济学评价文献,对文献质量、研究结果进行系统评价。结果：所有英文文献的 ICER 值均在各国的意愿支付范围内;国内外利妥昔单抗药物经济学评价在数据来源、研究方法等方面存在差异。结论：利妥昔单抗联合化疗治疗非霍奇金淋巴瘤在国外具有成本-效果;需开展高质量的研究来探索利妥昔单抗联合化疗治疗非霍奇金淋巴瘤在我国的经济性。     

基于AFM的细胞表面超微形貌成像与机械特性测量研究进展

原子力显微镜(AFM)以其独特的优势(纳米级空间分辨率、皮牛级力灵敏度、免标记、可在溶液下工作)成为细胞生物学的重要研究手段.AFM不仅可以对活细胞表面超微形貌进行可视化表征,同时还可通过压痕技术对细胞机械特性(如杨氏模量)进行定量测量,为原位探索纳米尺度下单个活细胞动态生理活动及力学行为提供了可行性.过去的数十年中,研究人员利用AFM在细胞超微形貌成像和机械特性测量方面开展了广泛的应用研究,展示了有关细胞生理活动的大量新认识,为生命医药学领域相关问题的解决提供了新的思路;同时AFM自身的性能也在不断得到改进和提升,进一步促进了其在生命科学领域的应用.本文结合作者在应用AFM观测纳米尺度下癌症靶向药物作用效能方面的研究工作,介绍了AFM成像与细胞机械特性测量的原理,总结了近年来AFM用于细胞表面超微形貌成像与机械特性测量所取得的进展,讨论了AFM表征与检测细胞生理特性存在的问题,并对其未来发展方向进行了展望.     

结合微针及AFM的单细胞精准激励与力学特性同步测量

目的 细胞力学特性与细胞生理病理变化过程及机体健康状态密切相关,研究细胞力学特性对于揭示生命活动内在机制具有重要科学意义.原子力显微镜(AFM)的出现为单细胞研究提供了新的技术手段,它不仅可以在溶液环境下对单个活细胞的形貌结构进行高分辨率成像,还能够对细胞力学特性进行定量测量.基于AFM的单细胞力学特性研究在过去数十年...     

利妥昔单抗联合化疗治疗弥漫型大B细胞淋巴瘤患者的临床研究

目的:探讨利妥昔单抗与化疗相结合治疗弥漫型大B细胞淋巴瘤(diffuse large Bcelllymphoma,DLBCL)患者的可行性。方法:选取2002年1月至2011年5月我院收治的84例CD20阳性的DLBCL患者,采用利利妥昔单抗与化疗相结合的方法治疗,对其疗效及安全性进行评价,并对其影响因素进行分析。结果:有56例患者治疗艹6个周期,占66.67%;有28例患者治疗6个周期,占33.33%。84例患者治疗的总有效率为83.33%。其中,初治组的总有效率为91.67%,明显高于复治组的62.5%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。红细胞沉降率、国际预后指数评分、是否为初治、是否存在B症状以及利妥昔单抗的治疗周期等变量成为影响治疗效果的独立危险因素(P0.05)。随访5年,治疗后第l年、2年、3年和5年患者的生存率分别为88.1%(74/84)、72.62%(61/84)、60.71%(51/84)、60.71%(51/84)。国际预后指数评分、利妥昔单抗的治疗周期以及治疗效果等变量是影响患者生存的独立危险因素(P0.05)。结论:对于弥漫型大B细胞淋巴瘤患者尤其是对初治患者而言,利妥昔单抗联合化疗治疗具有更好的治疗效果,临床应用时不会加重患者的不良反应。     

Single-cell force spectroscopy as a technique to quantify human red blood cell adhesion to subendothelial laminin

Single-cell force spectroscopy (SCFS), an atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based assay, enables quantitative study of cell adhesion while maintaining the native state of surface receptors in physiological conditions. Human healthy and pathological red blood cells (RBCs) express a large number of surface proteins which mediate cell–cell interactions, or cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix. In particular, RBCs adhere with high affinity to subendothelial matrix laminin via the basal cell adhesion molecule and Lutheran protein (BCAM/Lu). Here, we established SCFS as an in vitro technique to study human RBC adhesion at baseline and following biochemical treatment. Using blood obtained from healthy human subjects, we recorded adhesion forces from single RBCs attached to AFM cantilevers as the cell was pulled-off of substrates coated with laminin protein. We found that an increase in the overall cell adhesion measured via SCFS is correlated with an increase in the resultant total force measured on 1 µm² areas of the RBC membrane. Further, we showed that SCFS can detect significant changes in the adhesive response of RBCs to modulation of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and protein kinase A (PKA) pathway. Lastly, we identified variability in the RBC adhesion force to laminin amongst the human subjects, suggesting that RBCs maintain diverse levels of active BCAM/Lu adhesion receptors. By using single-cell measurements, we established a powerful new method for the quantitative measurement of single RBC adhesion with specific receptor-mediated binding.     

Revealing non-genetic adhesive variations in clonal populations by comparative single-cell force spectroscopy

Cell populations often display heterogeneous behavior, including cell-to-cell variations in morphology, adhesion and spreading. However, better understanding the significance of such cell variations for the function of the population as a whole requires quantitative single-cell assays. To investigate adhesion variability in a CHO cell population in detail, we measured integrin-mediated adhesion to laminin and collagen, two ubiquitous ECM components, by AFM-based single-cell force spectroscopy (SCFS). CHO cells generally adhered more strongly to laminin than collagen but population adhesion force distributions to both ECM components were broad and partially overlapped. To determine the levels of laminin and collagen binding in individual cells directly, we alternatingly measured single cells on adjacent microstripes of collagen and laminin arrayed on the same adhesion substrate. In repeated measurements (≥60) individual cells showed a stable and ECM type-specific adhesion response. All tested cells bound laminin more strongly, but the scale of laminin over collagen binding varied between cells. Together, this demonstrates that adhesion levels to different ECM components are tightly yet differently set in each cell of the population. Adhesion variability to laminin was non-genetic and cell cycle-independent but scaled with the range of α6 integrin expression on the cell surface. Adhesive cell-to-cell variations due to varying receptor expression levels thus appear to be an inherent feature of cell populations and should to be considered when fully characterizing population adhesion. In this approach, SCFS performed on multifunctional adhesion substrates can provide quantitative single-cell information not obtainable from population-averaging measurements on homogeneous adhesion substrates.     

Assay for characterizing the recovery of vertebrate cells for adhesion measurements by single-cell force spectroscopy

Single-cell force spectroscopy (SCFS) is becoming a widely used method to quantify the adhesion of a living cell to a substrate, another cell or tissue. The high sensitivity of SCFS permits determining the contributions of individual cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) to the adhesion force of an entire cell. However, to prepare adherent cells for SCFS, they must first be detached from tissue-culture flasks or plates. EDTA and trypsin are often applied for this purpose. Because cellular properties can be affected by this treatment, cells need to recover before being further characterized by SCFS. Here we introduce atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based SCFS to measure the mechanical and adhesive properties of HeLa cells and mouse embryonic kidney fibroblasts while they are recovering after detachment from tissue-culture. We find that mechanical and adhesive properties of both cell lines recover quickly (<10 min) after detachment using EDTA, while trypsin-detached fibroblasts require >60 min to fully recover. Our assay introduced to characterize the recovery of mammalian cells after detachment can in future be used to estimate the recovery behavior of other adherent cell types.     

Metformin attenuates adhesion between cancer and endothelial cells in chronic hyperglycemia by recovery of the endothelial glycocalyx barrier

BackgroundEpidemiologic studies suggest that diabetes is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Concurrently, clinical trials have shown that metformin, which is a first-line antidiabetic drug, displays anticancer activity. The underlying mechanisms for these effects are, however, still not well recognized.MethodsMethods based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to directly evaluate the influence of metformin on the nanomechanical and adhesive properties of endothelial and cancer cells in chronic hyperglycemia. AFM single-cell force spectroscopy (SCFS) was used to measure the total adhesion force and the work of detachment between EA.hy926 endothelial cells and A549 lung carcinoma cells. Nanoindentation with a spherical AFM probe provided information about the nanomechanical properties of cells, particularly the length and grafting density of the glycocalyx layer. Fluorescence imaging was used for glycocalyx visualization and monitoring of E-selectin and ICAM-1 expression.ResultsSCFS demonstrated that metformin attenuates adhesive interactions between EA.hy926 endothelial cells and A549 lung carcinoma cells in chronic hyperglycemia. Nanoindentation experiments, confirmed by confocal microscopy imaging, revealed metformin-induced recovery of endothelial glycocalyx length and density. The recovery of endothelial glycocalyx was correlated with a decrease in the surface expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1.ConclusionOur results identify metformin-induced endothelial glycocalyx restoration as a key factor responsible for the attenuation of adhesion between EA.hy926 endothelial cells and A549 lung carcinoma cells.General significanceMetformin-induced glycocalyx restoration and the resulting attenuation of adhesive interactions between the endothelium and cancer cells may account for the antimetastatic properties of this drug.     

Atomic force microscope-based single cell force spectroscopy of breast cancer cell lines: An approach for evaluating cellular invasion

The adhesiveness of cancerous cells to their neighboring cells significantly contributes to tumor progression and metastasis. The single-cell force spectroscopy (SCFS) approach was implemented to survey the cell–cell adhesion force between cancerous cells in three cancerous breast cell lines (MCF-7, T47D, and MDA-MB-231). The gene expression levels of two dominant cell adhesion markers (E-cadherin and N-cadherin) were quantified by real-time PCR. Additionally, the local stiffness of the cell bodies was measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the actin cytoskeletal organization was examined by confocal microscopy. Results indicated that the adhesion force between cells was conversely correlated with their invasion potential. The highest adhesion force was observed in the MCF-7 cells. A reduction in cell–cell adhesion, which is required for the detachment of cells from the main tumor during metastasis, is partly due to the loss of E-cadherin expression and the enhanced expression of N-cadherins. The reduced adhesion was accompanied by the softening of cells, as described by the rearrangement of actin filaments through confocal microscopy observations. The softening of the cell body and the reduced cellular adhesiveness are two adaptive mechanisms through which malignant cells achieve the increased deformability, motility, and strong metastasis potential necessary for passage through endothelial junctions and positioning in host tissue. This study presented application of SCFS to survey cell phenotype transformation during cancer progression. The results can be implemented as a platform for further investigations that target the manipulation of cellular adhesiveness and stiffness as a therapeutic choice.     

Investigating differential cell‐matrix adhesion by directly comparative single‐cell force spectroscopy

Tissue‐embedded cells are often exposed to a complex mixture of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, to which they bind with different cell adhesion receptors and affinities. Differential cell adhesion to ECM components is believed to regulate many aspects of tissue function, such as the sorting of specific cell types into different tissue compartments or ECM niches. In turn, aberrant switches in cell adhesion preferences may contribute to cell misplacement, tissue invasion, and metastasis. Methods to determine differential adhesion profiles of single cells are therefore desirable, but established bulk assays usually only test cell population adhesion to a single type of ECM molecule. We have recently demonstrated that atomic force microscopy‐based single‐cell force spectroscopy (SCFS), performed on bifunctional, microstructured adhesion substrates, provides a useful tool for accurately quantitating differential matrix adhesion of single Chinese hamster ovary cells to laminin and collagen I. Here, we have extended this approach to include additional ECM substrates, such as bifunctional collagen I/collagen IV surfaces, as well as adhesion‐passivated control surfaces. We investigate differential single cell adhesion to these substrates and analyze in detail suitable experimental conditions for comparative SCFS, including optimal cell‐substrate contact times and the impact of force cycle repetitions on single cell adhesion force statistics. Insight gained through these experiments may help in adapting this technique to other ECM molecules and cell systems, making directly comparative SCFS a versatile tool for comparing receptor‐mediated cell adhesion to different matrix molecules in a wide range of biological contexts. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cell-substratum and cell-cell adhesion forces and single-cell mechanical properties in mono- and multilayer assemblies from robotic fluidic force microscopy

The epithelium covers, protects, and actively regulates various formations and cavities of the human body. During embryonic development the assembly of the epithelium is crucial to the organoid formation, and the invasion of the epithelium is an essential step in cancer metastasis. Live cell mechanical properties and associated forces presumably play an important role in these biological processes. However, the direct measurement of cellular forces in a precise and high-throughput manner is still challenging. We studied the cellular adhesion maturation of epithelial Vero monolayers by measuring single-cell force-spectra with high-throughput fluidic force microscopy (robotic FluidFM). Vero cells were grown on gelatin-covered plates in different seeding concentrations, and cell detachment forces were recorded from the single-cell state, through clustered island formation, to their complete assembly into a sparse and then into a tight monolayer. A methodology was proposed to separate cell-substratum and cell-cell adhesion force and energy (work of adhesion) contributions based on the recorded force-distance curves. For comparison, cancerous HeLa cells were also measured in the same settings. During Vero monolayer formation, a significantly strengthening adhesive tendency was found, showing the development of cell-cell contacts. Interestingly, this type of step-by-step maturation was absent in HeLa cells. The attachment of cancerous HeLa cells to the assembled epithelial monolayers was also measured, proposing a new high-throughput method to investigate the biomechanics of cancer cell invasion. We found that HeLa cells adhere significantly stronger to the tight Vero monolayer than cells of the same origin. Moreover, the mechanical characteristics of Vero monolayers upon cancerous HeLa cell influence were recorded and analyzed. All these results provide insight into the qualitative assessment of cell-substratum and cell-cell mechanical contacts in mono- and multilayered assemblies and demonstrate the robustness and speed of the robotic FluidFM technology to reveal biomechanical properties of live cell assemblies with statistical significances.     

Methods for reducing nonspecific interaction in antibody-antigen assay via atomic force microscopy

We developed a method to measure the rupture forces between antibody and antigen by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Previous studies have reported that in the measurement of antibody–antigen interaction using AFM, the specific intermolecular forces are often obscured by nonspecific adhesive binding forces between antibody immobilized cantilever and substrate surfaces on which antigen or nonantigen are fixed. Here, we examined whether detergent and nonreactive protein, which have been widely used to reduce nonspecific background signals in ordinary immunoassay and immunoblotting, could reduce the nonspecific forces in the AFM measurement. The results showed that, in the presence of both nonreactive protein and detergent, the rupture forces between anti-ferritin antibodies immobilized on a tip of cantilever and ferritin (antigen) on the substrate could be successfully measured, distinguishing from nonspecific adhesive forces. In addition, we found that approach/retraction velocity of the AFM cantilever was also important in the reduction of nonspecific adhesion. These insights will contribute to the detection of specific molecules at nanometer scale region and the investigation of intermolecular interaction by the use of AFM.     

Rapid and Serial Quantification of Adhesion Forces of Yeast and Mammalian Cells

Cell adhesion to surfaces represents the basis for niche colonization and survival. Here we establish serial quantification of adhesion forces of different cell types using a single probe. The pace of single-cell force-spectroscopy was accelerated to up to 200 yeast and 20 mammalian cells per probe when replacing the conventional cell trapping cantilever chemistry of atomic force microscopy by underpressure immobilization with fluidic force microscopy (FluidFM). In consequence, statistically relevant data could be recorded in a rapid manner, the spectrum of examinable cells was enlarged, and the cell physiology preserved until approached for force spectroscopy. Adhesion forces of Candida albicans increased from below 4 up to 16 nN at 37°C on hydrophobic surfaces, whereas a Δhgc1-mutant showed forces consistently below 4 nN. Monitoring adhesion of mammalian cells revealed mean adhesion forces of 600 nN of HeLa cells on fibronectin and were one order of magnitude higher than those observed for HEK cells.