Adherent Cell Optical Stretching for Contactless Mechanics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring the mechanical properties of adherent biological cells are invasive, require suspension in a liquid medium, or cannot detect spatial elongation, leading to altered mechanical properties and inaccurate measurements.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that uses a laser to irradiate adherent cells on a substrate, causing spatial elongation parallel to the irradiation direction, with a detector to measure this elongation contactlessly, allowing for spatially and temporally selective deformation and mechanical property determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If contact-based methods (atomic force microscopy, micropipetting, mechanical stretching) are used to measure mechanical properties of adherent cells, then measurement can be performed on adherent cells, but the contact exerts high local force that damages the cell and falsifies measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces contact-based mechanical measurement methods with a contactless optical measurement system. A laser beam irradiates the adherent cell, and the interaction between the electromagnetic radiation and the cell's refractive index creates optical forces that deform the cell without physical contact. This substitution eliminates the high local contact forces that damage cells while maintaining the ability to measure mechanical properties through optical detection of cell deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electromagnetic radiation (laser beam) as an intermediary between the measurement system and the cell. Instead of direct mechanical contact, the laser beam serves as the medium to transmit force to the cell and carry information about cell deformation back to the detector. This intermediary enables contactless measurement while preserving cell integrity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If optical stretcher is used for contactless measurement of suspended cells, then cell damage is avoided, but cells must be suspended in liquid medium which alters their mechanical properties from natural adherent state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cells from the liquid suspension environment required by traditional optical stretchers and places them directly on a solid substrate in their natural adherent state. By removing the liquid medium requirement while maintaining contactless optical stretching, the measurement is performed on cells in their physiologically relevant adherent configuration, preserving their natural mechanical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the working condition parameter from suspended state to adherent state on substrate. This parameter change allows the cells to maintain their natural mechanical properties while still being accessible to the optical stretching field, as the laser can penetrate or interact with cells adhering to transparent or translucent substrates.
3Stability of the object's composition
If optical stretcher with wide beam is used to capture suspended cells, then stable capture is achieved, but spatially selective deformation at individual cell points is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling the laser beam to be focused or directed at specific locations on the cell or substrate while maintaining stable interaction. The beam can be spatially selective in deforming particular regions of interest on adherent cells without requiring wide beam coverage, allowing localized mechanical property measurement while maintaining measurement stability through controlled irradiation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables non-invasive, spatially selective measurement of adherent cell deformation, providing accurate mechanical properties without altering the cells' natural state, and enabling detection of viscoelastic properties via stress-strain curves.
Implementation Method 1
a laser for irradiating the at least one biological cell with electromagnetic radiation in a direction of irradiation, wherein the laser is configured to irradiate electromagnetic radiation on the at least one biological cell that effects a spatial elongation of the at least one biological cell in a direction parallel to the direction of irradiation
Implementation Method 2
a detector for detecting the spatial elongation of the cell in a direction parallel to the direction of irradiation
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for detecting a spatial elongation of at least one adherent biological cell is provided. The apparatus contains at least one biological cell, which is adhered to a substrate, a laser for irradiating the at least one biological cell for a spatial elongation of the cell in a direction parallel to the irradiation direction and a detector for detecting the spatial elongation of the cell in the direction parallel to the radiation direction. Further, a corresponding method for spatial elongation of an adherent biological cell is provided and the uses of the apparatus and of the method proposed. Using the apparatus and method, it is possible to ascertain, from parts of adherent cells to entire groups of adherent cells, the mechanical properties in the natural, adherent state of the cell(s) in spatially selective, temporally selective and contactless fashion.