A Uniaxial BioMEMS Device for Quantitative Force-Displacement Measurements

Published

April 3, 2007

Author(s)

David Serrell, Tammy L. Oreskovic, Andrew Slifka, Roop L. Mahajan, Dudley Finch

Abstract

There is a need for experimental techniques that allow the simultaneous imaging of cellular cystoskeletal components with quantitative force measurements on single cells. A bioMEMS device has been developed for the application of strain to a single cell while simultaneously quantifying its force response. The prototype device presented here allows the mechanical study of a single, adherent cell in vitro. It works in a similar fashion to a displacement-controlled uniaxial tensile machine, and is calibrated using an AFM cantilever demonstrating excellent agreement with the theoretical spring constant. A single fibroblast is used here to illustrate how the device operates. The force response of the cell is seen to be linear until the onset of de-adhesion with the cell de-adhering from the cell platform at a force of approximately 1500 nN.

Citation

Biomedical Microdevices

Volume

9

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

bioMEMS, cell mechanics, fibroblast

Citation

Serrell, D. , Oreskovic, T. , Slifka, A. , Mahajan, R. and Finch, D. (2007), A Uniaxial BioMEMS Device for Quantitative Force-Displacement Measurements, Biomedical Microdevices, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=50343 (Accessed October 18, 2025)