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  4. Ultraflexible nanowire array for label- and distortion-free cellular force tracking
 
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2019
Journal Article
Title

Ultraflexible nanowire array for label- and distortion-free cellular force tracking

Abstract
Living cells interact with their immediate environment by exerting mechanical forces, which regulate important cell functions. Elucidation of such force patterns yields deep insights into the physics of life. Here we present a top-down nanostructured, ultraflexible nanowire array biosensor capable of probing cell-induced forces. Its universal building block, an inverted conical semiconductor nanowire, greatly enhances both the functionality and the sensitivity of the device. In contrast to existing cellular force sensing architectures, microscopy is performed on the nanowire heads while cells deflecting the nanowires are confined within the array. This separation between the optical path and the cells under investigation excludes optical distortions caused by cell-induced refraction, which can give rise to feigned displacements on the 100 nm scale. The undistorted nanowire displacements are converted into cellular forces via the nanowire spring constant. The resulting distortion-free cellular force transducer realizes a high-resolution and label-free biosenor based on optical microscopy. Its performance is demonstrated in a proof-of-principle experiment with living Dictyostelium discoideum cells migrating through the nanowire array. Cell-induced forces are probed with a resolution of 50 piconewton, while the most flexible nanowires promise to enter the 100 femtonewton realm.
Author(s)
Paulitschke, P.
Keber, F.
Lebedev, A.
Stephan, J.
Lorenz, H.
Hasselmann, Sebastian  
Fraunhofer-Institut für Silicatforschung ISC  
Heinrich, Doris  
Fraunhofer-Institut für Silicatforschung ISC  
Weig, E.M.
Journal
Nano Letters  
Open Access
DOI
10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b02568
Language
Fraunhofer-Institut für Silicatforschung ISC  
Keyword(s)
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