A detailed protocol for cell force measurement by traction force microscopy
Cellular traction forces (CTFs) are generated by adherent cells and involved in regulating migration, morphology, and homeostasis. Accurate measurement of CTFs is crucial for understanding fundamental biological processes such as morphogenesis, angiogenesis, and wound healing. However, directly meas...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Smart Materials in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259018342300039X |
| _version_ | 1797326207380881408 |
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| author | Man Zhang Yu Zhang Peng Wang Qian Sun Xin Wang Yi Cao Qiang Wei |
| author_facet | Man Zhang Yu Zhang Peng Wang Qian Sun Xin Wang Yi Cao Qiang Wei |
| author_sort | Man Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cellular traction forces (CTFs) are generated by adherent cells and involved in regulating migration, morphology, and homeostasis. Accurate measurement of CTFs is crucial for understanding fundamental biological processes such as morphogenesis, angiogenesis, and wound healing. However, directly measuring CTFs, which typically range in the nanonewton scale, is challenging. Cellular traction force microscopy (TFM) has been developed to quantify CTFs, but detailed operational procedures and complex data analysis limit its applicability. In this study, hydrogels embedded with fluo-spheres serve as the substrate for TFM measurement under a detailed TFM protocol. Additionally, we designed a user-friendly program for easy parameter setting. An open-source program called Python Fourier transform traction cytometry (pyFTTC) is introduced for data analysis, utilizing particle image velocimetry (PIV) to calculate the traction force from a batch of images. Cross-correlation based PIV and L2-regularized FTTC are applied to all images for data analysis. This article provides a straightforward protocol for quantifying CTFs in standard laboratories, facilitating both cell biology studies and biomaterials development. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:20:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-25325c869cca4c4f9d4b0b417de110ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-1834 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:20:07Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Smart Materials in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-25325c869cca4c4f9d4b0b417de110ad2024-02-04T04:46:25ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Smart Materials in Medicine2590-18342024-03-0151106113A detailed protocol for cell force measurement by traction force microscopyMan Zhang0Yu Zhang1Peng Wang2Qian Sun3Xin Wang4Yi Cao5Qiang Wei6College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, ChinaCollege of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, ChinaCollege of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, ChinaWenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, 325001, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China; Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, 250021, China; Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, 325001, China; Corresponding author. Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China; Corresponding author. Sichuan University, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, 610065, Chengdu, China.Cellular traction forces (CTFs) are generated by adherent cells and involved in regulating migration, morphology, and homeostasis. Accurate measurement of CTFs is crucial for understanding fundamental biological processes such as morphogenesis, angiogenesis, and wound healing. However, directly measuring CTFs, which typically range in the nanonewton scale, is challenging. Cellular traction force microscopy (TFM) has been developed to quantify CTFs, but detailed operational procedures and complex data analysis limit its applicability. In this study, hydrogels embedded with fluo-spheres serve as the substrate for TFM measurement under a detailed TFM protocol. Additionally, we designed a user-friendly program for easy parameter setting. An open-source program called Python Fourier transform traction cytometry (pyFTTC) is introduced for data analysis, utilizing particle image velocimetry (PIV) to calculate the traction force from a batch of images. Cross-correlation based PIV and L2-regularized FTTC are applied to all images for data analysis. This article provides a straightforward protocol for quantifying CTFs in standard laboratories, facilitating both cell biology studies and biomaterials development.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259018342300039XTraction force microscopyCell adhesionMechanobiologyHydrogel |
| spellingShingle | Man Zhang Yu Zhang Peng Wang Qian Sun Xin Wang Yi Cao Qiang Wei A detailed protocol for cell force measurement by traction force microscopy Smart Materials in Medicine Traction force microscopy Cell adhesion Mechanobiology Hydrogel |
| title | A detailed protocol for cell force measurement by traction force microscopy |
| title_full | A detailed protocol for cell force measurement by traction force microscopy |
| title_fullStr | A detailed protocol for cell force measurement by traction force microscopy |
| title_full_unstemmed | A detailed protocol for cell force measurement by traction force microscopy |
| title_short | A detailed protocol for cell force measurement by traction force microscopy |
| title_sort | detailed protocol for cell force measurement by traction force microscopy |
| topic | Traction force microscopy Cell adhesion Mechanobiology Hydrogel |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259018342300039X |
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