AFM-QLSI platform for measuring global dynamic mechanical responses of cells
This technology is an integrated atomic force microscopy (AFM)-quadriwave lateral shearing interferometry (QLSI) platform that generates localized mechanical stimulation and measures mechanical responses of cells with high spatial and temporal resolution for mechanobiology research.
Unmet Need: Limited methods to measure global cellular mechanical responses
Current technologies for measuring cellular mechanical properties are limited to local measurements of mechanical stimuli and fail to capture global cellular responses to mechanical perturbations. This prevents a complete understanding of how cells integrate localized mechanical stimuli into global responses. As a result, key processes such as differentiation, migration, and proliferation are not fully characterized from a mechanobiology perspective. Addressing this gap is critical for providing a mechanical description of complex samples.
The Technology: AFM-QLSI platform for simultaneous mechanical perturbation and global cellular response measurement
This technology combines atomic force microscopy (AFM) and quadriwave lateral shearing (QLSI) to enable localized mechanical stimulation and simultaneous measurement of global cellular responses. AFM maps local mechanical properties and applies controlled perturbations at defined points, while QLSI captures optical phase shifts to quantify the cell’s global response. This platform generates controlled mechanical perturbations and continuously tracks global cell-surface deformation with high spatial and temporal resolution. This technology may support applications in mechanobiology research and the study of disease-associated changes in cellular mechanics.
This technology has been validated in cells.
Applications:
- Mechanotransduction in mammalian cells, bacteria, yeast, or other biological tissues
- Mechanotransduction in engineered tissues and biomaterials
- Material design informed by mechanotransduction properties
- Cellular mechanical properties in disease contexts such as cancer, metastasis, and atherosclerosis
- Drug discovery and screening platforms that target mechanotransduction pathways
Advantages:
- Captures global mechanical responses
- Enables precise, localized mechanical stimulation
- Measures synchronous spatiotemporal responses across the cell
- Adaptable to a range of biological samples
Lead Inventor:
Patent Information:
Patent Pending
Related Publications:
Tech Ventures Reference:
IR CU26264
Licensing Contact: Dovina Qu