Name: ensemble force spectroscopy by shear forces
Uploaded: 2022-07-26T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Ensemble Force Spectroscopy by Shear Forces at JoVE.com

This research work was supported by the National Science Foundation [CBET-1904921] and the National Institutes of Health [NIH R01CA236350] to H. M.

NOTE: All the buffers and the chemical reagents used in this protocol are listed in the Table Materials.
1. Preparation of the shear force microscope
NOTE: The shear force microscope contains two parts, a reaction unit (homogenizer) and a detection unit (fluorescence microscope). The magnification of the eyepiece is 10x, and the magnification of the objective lens (air) is 4x.
<ol>
	<li>Assemble the homogenizer and the microscope ...

<ol>
	<li>Neuman, K. C., Nagy, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Single-molecule+force+spectroscopy:+Optical+tweezers,+magnetic+tweezers+and+atomic+force+microscopy.">Single-molecule force spectroscopy: Optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers and atomic force microscopy.</a> Nature Methods. 5 (6), 491-505 (2008).</li><li>Woodside, M. T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nanomechanical+measurements+of+the+sequence-dependent+folding+landscapes+of+single+nucleic+acid+hairpins.">Nanomechanical measurements of the sequence-dependent folding landscapes of single nucleic acid hairpins.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 103 (16), 6190-6195 (2006).</li><li>Grandbois, M., Beyer, M., Rief, M., Clausen-Schaumann, H., Gaub, H. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=How+strong+is+a+covalent+bond.">How strong is a covalent bond.</a> Science. 283 (5408), 1727-1730 (1999).</li><li>Strick, T. R., Allemand, J. F., Bensimon, D., Croquette, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Behavior+of+supercoiled+DNA.">Behavior of supercoiled DNA.</a> Biophysical Journal. 74 (4), 2016-2028 (1998).</li><li>Yang, D., Ward, A., Halvorsen, K., Wong, W. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multiplexed+single-molecule+force+spectroscopy+using+a+centrifuge.">Multiplexed single-molecule force spectroscopy using a centrifuge.</a> Nature Communications. 7, 11026 (2016).</li><li>Su, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Light-responsive+polymer+particles+as+force+clamps+for+the+mechanical+unfolding+of+target+molecules.">Light-responsive polymer particles as force clamps for the mechanical unfolding of target molecules.</a> Nano Letters. 18 (4), 2630-2636 (2018).</li><li>Kirkness, M. W. H., Forde, N. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Single-molecule+assay+for+proteolytic+susceptibility:+Force-induced+collagen+destabilization.">Single-molecule assay for proteolytic susceptibility: Force-induced collagen destabilization.</a> Biophysical Journal. 114 (3), 570-576 (2018).</li><li>Astumian, R. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Thermodynamics+and+kinetics+of+molecular+motors.">Thermodynamics and kinetics of molecular motors.</a> Biophysical Journal. 98 (11), 2401-2409 (2010).</li><li>Bekard, I. B., Asimakis, P., Bertolini, J., Dunstan, D. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effects+of+shear+flow+on+protein+structure+and+function.">The effects of shear flow on protein structure and function.</a> Biopolymers. 95 (11), 733-745 (2011).</li><li>Chistiakov, D. A., Orekhov, A. N., Bobryshev, Y. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+shear+stress+on+endothelial+cells:+go+with+the+flow.">Effects of shear stress on endothelial cells: go with the flow.</a> Acta Physiologica. 219 (2), 382-408 (2017).</li><li>Hu, C., Jonchhe, S., Pokhrel, P., Karna, D., Mao, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanical+unfolding+of+ensemble+biomolecular+structures+by+shear+force.">Mechanical unfolding of ensemble biomolecular structures by shear force.</a> Chemical Science. 12 (30), 10159-10164 (2021).</li><li>Sedghi Masoud, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Analysis+of+interactions+between+telomeric+i-motif+DNA+and+a+cyclic+tetraoxazole+compound.">Analysis of interactions between telomeric i-motif DNA and a cyclic tetraoxazole compound.</a> ChemBioChem. 19 (21), 2268-2272 (2018).</li><li>Abraham Punnoose, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Adaptive+and+specific+recognition+of+telomeric+G-quadruplexes+via+polyvalency+induced+unstacking+of+binding+units.">Adaptive and specific recognition of telomeric G-quadruplexes via polyvalency induced unstacking of binding units.</a> Journal of the American Chemical Society. 139 (22), 7476-7484 (2017).</li><li>Dhakal, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coexistence+of+an+ILPR+i-motif+and+a+partially+folded+structure+with+comparable+mechanical+stability+revealed+at+the+single-molecule+level.">Coexistence of an ILPR i-motif and a partially folded structure with comparable mechanical stability revealed at the single-molecule level.</a> Journal of the American Chemical Society. 132 (26), 8991-8997 (2010).</li><li>Hu, C., Tahir, R., Mao, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Single-molecule+mechanochemical+sensing.">Single-molecule mechanochemical sensing.</a> Accounts of Chemical Research. 55 (9), 1214-1225 (2022).</li></ol>

The protocol described in this manuscript allows real-time investigation of the unfolding of an ensemble set of biomolecular structures by shear force. The results presented here underscore that DNA i-motif structures can be unfolded by shear force. The unfolding of the ligand-bound i-motif and the shear force-actuated click reactions were proof-of-concept applications for this ensemble force spectroscopy method.
Figure 1 presents the instrument setup. The homogen...

In single-molecule force spectroscopy1 (SMFS), the mechanical properties of individual molecular structures have been studied by sophisticated instruments such as the atomic force microscope, optical tweezers, and magnetic tweezers2,3,4. Restricted by the same directionality requirement of the molecules in the force-generating/detecting setups or the small field of view in magnetic tweezers and the miniature centrifuge force microscope (MCF)5,6,7,8, only a limited number of molecules can be investigated simultaneously using SMFS. The low throughput of SMFS prevents its wide application in the molecular recognition field, which requires the involvement of a large set of molecules.
Shear flow provides a potential solution to apply forces to a massive set of molecules9. In a liquid flow inside a channel, the closer to the channel surface, the slower the flow rate10. Such a flow velocity gradient causes shear stress that is parallel to the boundary surface. When a molecule is placed in this shear flow, the molecule reorients itself so that its long axis aligns with the flow direction, as the shear force is applied to the long axis11. As a result of this reorientation, all the molecules of the same type (size and length of handles) are expected to align in the same direction while experiencing the same shear force.
This work describes a protocol to use such a shear flow to exert shear force on a massive set of molecular structures, as exemplified by the DNA i-motif. In this protocol, a shear flow is generated between the rotor and stator in a homogenizer tip. The present study found that the folded DNA i-motif structure could be unfolded by shear rates of 9724-97245 s&#8722;1. Besides, a dissociation constant of 36 &#181;M was found between the L2H2-4OTD ligand and the i-motif. This value is consistent with that of 31 &#181;M measured by the gel shift assay12. Further, the current technique is used to unfold the i-motif, which can expose the chelated copper (I) to catalyze a click reaction. This protocol thus allows one to unfold a large set of i-motif structures with low-cost instruments in a reasonable time (shorter than 30 min). Given that the shear force technique drastically increases the throughput of the force spectroscopy, we call this technique ensemble force spectroscopy (EFS). This protocol aims to provide experimental guidelines to facilitate the application of this shear force-based EFS.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>3K MWCO Amicon</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>ufc900324</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ascorbic acid</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>VWRC0143-100G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Calfluor 488 azide</td>
			<td>Click Chemistry Tools</td>
			<td>1369-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CuCl</td>
			<td>Thermo&#160;</td>
			<td>ACRO270525000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dispersion tip</td>
			<td>Switzerland</td>
			<td>PT-DA07/2EC-B101</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DNA oligos</td>
			<td>IDT</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dye</td>
			<td>IDT</td>
			<td>/5Cy5/</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescence microscope</td>
			<td>Janpan</td>
			<td>Nikon TE2000-U</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Homogenizer</td>
			<td>Switzerland</td>
			<td>PT 3100D</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HPG</td>
			<td>Santa Cruz Biotechnology</td>
			<td>cs-295271</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KCl</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>VWRC26760.295</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MES</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>VWRCE169-500G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Quencher</td>
			<td>IDT</td>
			<td>/3IAbRQSp/</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TBTA</td>
			<td>Tokyo Chemical Industry</td>
			<td>T2993</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tris</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>VWRCE133-100G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

ensemble force spectroscopy by shear forces

Single-molecule techniques based on fluorescence and mechanochemical principles provide superior sensitivity in biological sensing. However, due to the lack of high throughput capabilities, the application of these techniques is limited in biophysics. Ensemble force spectroscopy (EFS) has demonstrated high throughput in the investigation of a massive set of molecular structures by converting mechanochemical studies of individual molecules into those of molecular ensembles. In this protocol, the DNA secondary structures (i-motifs) were unfolded in the shear flow between the rotor and stator of a homogenizer tip at shear rates up to 77796/s. The effects of flow rates and molecular sizes on the shear forces experienced by the i-motif were demonstrated. The EFS technique also revealed the binding affinity between DNA i-motifs and ligands. Furthermore, we have demonstrated a click chemistry reaction that can be actuated by shear force (i.e., mechano-click chemistry). These results establish the effectiveness of using shear force to control the conformation of molecular structures.

Figure 1 outlines the mechanical unfolding and real-time sensing of ensemble molecules in EFS. In Figure 1B, the fluorescence intensity of i-motif DNA was observed to increase with the shear rate ranging from 9,724 s&#8722;1 to 97,245 s&#8722;1 in a pH 5.5 MES buffer. As a control, fluorescence intensity was not increased when the same i-motif DNA was sheared at a rate of 63,209 s&#8722;1 in a pH 7.4 MES buffer. ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Ensemble Force Spectroscopy by Shear Forces at JoVE.com

Ensemble Force Spectroscopy by Shear Forces

Ensemble force spectroscopy (EFS) is a robust technique for mechanical unfolding and real-time sensing of an ensemble set of biomolecular structures in biophysical and biosensing fields.

Single-molecule techniques based on fluorescence and mechanochemical principles provide superior sensitivity in biological sensing. However, due to the ...

This protocol provides a high throughput technique to study the intermolecular binding between DNA and ligands. This technique has demonstrated high throughput in the investigation of massive set of biomolecular structures. It does so by converting the mechanical chemical properties of individual molecules into those of molecular ensembles.I think it is a very step forward experiment but there are few critically steps. For example, the alignment of microscope, homogenizer, and the reaction tube. These three things should be perfectly aligned in order to accurately track the change in fluorescence.Begin by assembling the homogenizer and the microscope on a mounting table. After wearing goggles, turn on the fluorescence microscope and then adjust the homogenizer to make sure that the excitation light beam passes through the center of the dispersing tip of the homogenizer. Then prepare a flat bottomed reaction chamber that is five centimeters in height and 1.5 by 1.5 square centimeters in cross section, ensuring that the selected chamber material does not fluoresce to reduce the background.Afterward, clamp the reaction chamber on the sample stage of the fluorescence microscope and then adjust the chamber to hold the dispersing tip of the homogenizer, ensuring that the tip is slightly above the bottom surface of the reaction chamber. Next, adjust the vertical position of the homogenizer and the chamber together to ensure the focus of the microscope is on the surface of the dispersing tip. Then adjust the horizontal position of the dispersing tip to ensure that the detection area is set between the rotor and stater.Switch on the fluorescent channels, according to the fluorescent dye used in the experiment. Before the high speed shearing experiment, used deionized water to test the shearing with a low shearing speed. First, prepare a human telomeric i-motif DNA labeled with a dye and a quencher at its two ends respectively in deionized water as described in the manuscript.Next, dilute the DNA to five micromolar in 30 millimolar MES buffer at pH 5.5 or pH 7.4. To the DNA solution, add ligand L2H24OTD"in a concentration range of zero to 60 micromolar and mix the solution gently for 10 minutes to fold the i-motif structures without light. Check and minimize the background fluorescence intensity of the reaction chamber that is filled with deionized water using the fluorescent microscope without shearing.Then set the parameters of the CCD camera using the software with exposure time as 0.5 seconds, CCD sensitivity of 1, 600, and recording time equal to 20 minutes. Using a long pipette, add the DNA solution into the empty and clean reaction chamber and cover the reaction chamber with a black box. Then start the homogenizer to perform shearing at a selected shear rate ranging from 9, 724 per second to 97, 245 per second for 20 minutes, with the CCD camera turned on to record the data.After the experiment, remove the chamber and wash it with deionized water. Prepare i-motif DNA and deionized water. Then, incubate 10 micromolar i-motif DNA and 300 microliters of 30 millimolar tris buffer supplemented with 150 micromolar cupric chloride and 300 micromolar ascorbic acid for 10 minutes to fold the i-motif structures.Next ultra filtrate the solution with an ultra filtration device at a centrifugal force of 14, 300 times G.Replenish the solution to approximately 500 microliters with 30 millimolar tris buffers supplemented with 300 micromolar ascorbic acid after each filtration. After collecting the residual solution, make a final volume of 300 microliters by adding 30 millimolar tris supplemented with 300 micromolar ascorbic acid along with 20 micromolar CalFluor 488 Azide, 20 micromolar HPG, and 10 micromolar TBTA. Once the reagents are added, move the solution to the dark room.Then check and minimize the background fluorescence intensity of the reaction chamber filled with deionized water using the microscope before the shearing experiments. Next, add the DNA solution into the empty reaction chamber with a long pipette, and then start the homogenizer shearing at a shear rate of 63, 209 per second for 20 minutes with the CCD camera turned on. After the experiment, remove the chamber and wash it with deionized water.The fluorescence intensity of i-motif DNA was observed to increase with the sheer rate ranging from 9, 724 per second to 97, 245 per second in a pH 5.5 MES buffer. However, fluorescence intensity was not increased when the same i-motif DNA was sheared at a rate of 63, 209 per second, as it does not fold at pH 7.4 in MES buffer. The ligand binding to the DNA i-motif molecules subjected to the sheer flow was evaluated which showed that the increment of the fluorescence intensity became less obvious with increasing ligand concentration.The dissociation constant was determined for the interaction between the ligand and the i-motif and was found to be 34 micromoles. The copper one chelated i-motif was unfolded at the 63, 209 per second shear rate, and the released copper one triggered the fluorgenic click reaction, resulting in increased fluorescence intensity over time. Firstly, make sure that the detection area is set between rotor and the stater.Second, check and minimize the fluorescence background. And lastly, make sure you filter the reaction before you perform click reaction. This method opens a gateway to explore mechanical strength, folding and unfolding off all kinds of polymers.It could be other DNA structures, proteins, or other polymers, and their interaction with other kinds of molecules. As said, several other macromolecules could be studied using this approach.

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Bioengineering

Thermodynamics of Membrane Protein Folding Measured by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Membrane protein folding is an emerging topic with both fundamental and health-related significance. The abundance of membrane proteins in cells underlies the need for comprehensive study of the folding of this ubiquitous family of proteins. Additionally, advances in our ability to characterize diseases associated with misfolded proteins have motivated significant experimental and theoretical efforts in the field of protein folding. Rapid progress in this important field is unfortunately hindered by the inherent challenges associated with membrane proteins and the complexity of the folding mechanism. Here, we outline an experimental procedure for measuring the thermodynamic property of the Gibbs free energy of unfolding in the absence of denaturant, &Delta;G&deg;H2O, for a representative integral membrane protein from E. coli. This protocol focuses on the application of fluorescence spectroscopy to determine equilibrium populations of folded and unfolded states as a function of denaturant concentration. Experimental considerations for the preparation of synthetic lipid vesicles as well as key steps in the data analysis procedure are highlighted. This technique is versatile and may be pursued with different types of denaturant, including temperature and pH, as well as in various folding environments of lipids and micelles. The current protocol is one that can be generalized to any membrane or soluble protein that meets the set of criteria discussed below.

This video article details the experimental procedure for obtaining the Gibbs free energy of membrane protein folding by tryptophan fluorescence.

Membrane protein folding is an emerging topic with both fundamental and health-related significance.  The abundance of membrane proteins in cells ...

Bacterial Immobilization for Imaging by Atomic Force Microscopy

AFM is a high-resolution (nm scale) imaging tool that mechanically probes a surface. It has the ability to image cells and biomolecules, in a liquid environment, without the need to chemically treat the sample. In order to accomplish this goal, the sample must sufficiently adhere to the mounting surface to prevent removal by forces exerted by the scanning AFM cantilever tip. In many instances, successful imaging depends on immobilization of the sample to the mounting surface. Optimally, immobilization should be minimally invasive to the sample such that metabolic processes and functional attributes are not compromised. By coating freshly cleaved mica surfaces with porcine (pig) gelatin, negatively charged bacteria can be immobilized on the surface and imaged in liquid by AFM. Immobilization of bacterial cells on gelatin-coated mica is most likely due to electrostatic interaction between the negatively charged bacteria and the positively charged gelatin. Several factors can interfere with bacterial immobilization, including chemical constituents of the liquid in which the bacteria are suspended, the incubation time of the bacteria on the gelatin coated mica, surface characteristics of the bacterial strain and the medium in which the bacteria are imaged. Overall, the use of gelatin-coated mica is found to be generally applicable for imaging microbial cells.

Live Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria can be immobilized on gelatin-coated mica and imaged in liquid using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).

AFM is a high-resolution (nm scale) imaging tool that mechanically probes a surface.  It has the ability to image cells and biomolecules, in a liquid ...

Investigating Receptor-ligand Systems of the Cellulosome with AFM-based Single-molecule Force Spectroscopy

Cellulosomes are discrete multienzyme complexes used by a subset of anaerobic bacteria and fungi to digest lignocellulosic substrates. Assembly of the enzymes onto the noncatalytic scaffold protein is directed by interactions among a family of related receptor-ligand pairs comprising interacting cohesin and dockerin modules. The extremely strong binding between cohesin and dockerin modules results in dissociation constants in the low picomolar to nanomolar range, which may hamper accurate off-rate measurements with conventional bulk methods. Single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) with the atomic force microscope measures the response of individual biomolecules to force, and in contrast to other single-molecule manipulation methods (i.e.&#160;optical tweezers), is optimal for studying high-affinity receptor-ligand interactions because of its ability to probe the high-force regime (&#62;120 pN). Here we present our complete protocol for studying cellulosomal protein assemblies at the single-molecule level. Using a protein topology derived from the native cellulosome, we worked with enzyme-dockerin and carbohydrate binding module-cohesin (CBM-cohesin) fusion proteins, each with an accessible free thiol group at an engineered cysteine residue. We present our site-specific surface immobilization protocol, along with our measurement and data analysis procedure for obtaining detailed binding parameters for the high-affinity complex. We demonstrate how to quantify single subdomain unfolding forces, complex rupture forces, kinetic off-rates, and potential widths of the binding well. The successful application of these methods in characterizing the cohesin-dockerin interaction responsible for assembly of multidomain cellulolytic complexes is further described.

Cellulosomes are multienzyme complexes designed for digesting cellulose. AFM-based SMFS was used to study the mechanical properties and folding configuration of cellulosome-associated protein assemblies. We present a complete workflow for protein immobilization, data acquisition, and data analysis to study the interactions of individual receptor-ligand complexes involved in cellulosome assembly.

Cellulosomes are discrete multienzyme complexes used by a subset of anaerobic bacteria and fungi to digest lignocellulosic substrates. Assembly of the ...

Generation of Shear Adhesion Map Using SynVivo Synthetic Microvascular Networks

Cell/particle adhesion assays are critical to understanding the biochemical interactions involved in disease pathophysiology and have important applications in the quest for the development of novel therapeutics. Assays using static conditions fail to capture the dependence of adhesion on shear, limiting their correlation with in vivo environment. Parallel plate flow chambers that quantify adhesion under physiological fluid flow need multiple experiments for the generation of a shear adhesion map. In addition, they do not represent the in vivo scale and morphology and require large volumes (~ml) of reagents for experiments. In this study, we demonstrate the generation of shear adhesion map from a single experiment using a microvascular network based microfluidic device, SynVivo-SMN. This device recreates the complex in vivo vasculature including geometric scale, morphological elements, flow features and cellular interactions in an in vitro format, thereby providing a biologically realistic environment for basic and applied research in cellular behavior, drug delivery, and drug discovery. The assay was demonstrated by studying the interaction of the 2 &#181;m biotin-coated particles with avidin-coated surfaces of the microchip. The entire range of shear observed in the microvasculature is obtained in a single assay enabling adhesion vs. shear map for the particles under physiological conditions.

Flow chambers used in adhesion experiments typically consist of linear flow paths and require multiple experiments at different flow rates to generate a shear adhesion map. SynVivo-SMN enables the generation of shear adhesion map using a single experiment utilizing microliter volumes resulting in significant savings in time and consumables.

Cell/particle adhesion assays are critical to understanding the biochemical interactions involved in disease pathophysiology and have important ...

Manufacture of Concentrated, Lipid-based Oxygen Microbubble Emulsions by High Shear Homogenization and Serial Concentration

Gas-filled microbubbles have been developed as ultrasound contrast and drug delivery agents. Microbubbles can be produced by processing surfactants using sonication, mechanical agitation, microfluidic devices, or homogenization. Recently, lipid-based oxygen microbubbles (LOMs) have been designed to deliver oxygen intravenously during medical emergencies, reversing life-threatening hypoxemia, and preventing subsequent organ injury, cardiac arrest, and death. We present methods for scaled-up production of highly oxygenated microbubbles using a closed-loop high-shear homogenizer. The process can produce 2 L of concentrated LOMs (90% by volume) in 90 min. Resulting bubbles have a mean diameter of ~2 &#956;m, and a rheologic profile consistent with that of blood when diluted to 60 volume %. This technique produces LOMs in high capacity and with high oxygen purity, suggesting that this technique may be useful for translational research labs.

We describe methods for the manufacture of large volumes of lipid-based oxygen microbubbles (LOMs) designed for intravenous oxygen delivery using high-shear homogenization and serial concentration.

Gas-filled microbubbles have been developed as ultrasound contrast and drug delivery agents. Microbubbles can be produced by processing surfactants using ...

Measurement of Maximum Isometric Force Generated by Permeabilized Skeletal Muscle Fibers

Analysis of the contractile properties of chemically skinned, or permeabilized, skeletal muscle fibers offers a powerful means by which to assess muscle function at the level of the single muscle cell. Single muscle fiber studies are useful in both basic science and clinical studies. For basic studies, single muscle fiber contractility measurements allow investigation of fundamental mechanisms of force production, and analysis of muscle function in the context of genetic manipulations. Clinically, single muscle fiber studies provide useful insight into the impact of injury and disease on muscle function, and may be used to guide the understanding of muscular pathologies. In this video article we outline the steps required to prepare and isolate an individual skeletal muscle fiber segment, attach it to force-measuring apparatus, activate it to produce maximum isometric force, and estimate its cross-sectional area for the purpose of normalizing the force produced.

Analysis of the contractile properties of chemically skinned, or permeabilized, skeletal muscle fibers offers a powerful means by which to assess muscle function at the level of the single muscle cell. In this article we outline a valid and reliable technique to prepare and test permeabilized skeletal muscle fibers in vitro.

Analysis of the contractile properties of chemically skinned, or permeabilized, skeletal muscle fibers offers a powerful means by which to assess muscle ...

Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging and Force Spectroscopy of Supported Lipid Bilayers

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a versatile, high-resolution imaging technique that allows visualization of biological membranes. It has sufficient magnification to examine membrane substructures and even individual molecules. AFM can act as a force probe to measure interactions and mechanical properties of membranes. Supported lipid bilayers are conventionally used as membrane models in AFM studies. In this protocol, we demonstrate how to prepare supported bilayers and characterize their structure and mechanical properties using AFM. These include bilayer thickness and breakthrough force. 
The information provided by AFM imaging and force spectroscopy help define mechanical and chemical properties of membranes. These properties play an important role in cellular processes such as maintaining cell hemostasis from environmental stress, bringing membrane proteins together, and stabilizing protein complexes.

We describe a protocol for preparation of supported lipid bilayers and its characterization using atomic force microscopy and force spectroscopy.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a versatile, high-resolution imaging technique that allows visualization of biological membranes. It has sufficient ...

A Protocol for Using F&#246;rster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-force Biosensors to Measure Mechanical Forces across the Nuclear LINC Complex

The LINC complex has been hypothesized to be the critical structure that mediates the transfer of mechanical forces from the cytoskeleton to the nucleus. Nesprin-2G is a key component of the LINC complex that connects the actin cytoskeleton to membrane proteins (SUN domain proteins) in the perinuclear space. These membrane proteins connect to lamins inside the nucleus. Recently, a F&#246;rster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-force probe was cloned into mini-Nesprin-2G (Nesprin-TS (tension sensor)) and used to measure tension across Nesprin-2G in live NIH3T3 fibroblasts. This paper describes the process of using Nesprin-TS to measure LINC complex forces in NIH3T3 fibroblasts. To extract FRET information from Nesprin-TS, an outline of how to spectrally unmix raw spectral images into acceptor and donor fluorescent channels is also presented. Using open-source software (ImageJ), images are pre-processed and transformed into ratiometric images. Finally, FRET data of Nesprin-TS is presented, along with strategies for how to compare data across different experimental groups.

A Protocol for Using F&amp;#246;rster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-force Biosensors to Measure Mechanical Forces across the Nuclear LINC Complex

A number of FRET-based force biosensors have recently been developed, enabling the protein-specific resolution of intracellular force. In this protocol, we demonstrate how one of these sensors, designed for the linker of the nucleoskeleton-cytoskeleton (LINC) complex protein Nesprin-2G can be used to measure actomyosin forces on the nuclear LINC complex.

The LINC complex has been hypothesized to be the critical structure that mediates the transfer of mechanical forces from the cytoskeleton to the nucleus. ...

Detection of Endotoxin in Nano-formulations Using Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) Assays

When present in pharmaceutical products, a Gram-negative bacterial cell wall component endotoxin (often also called lipopolysaccharide) can cause inflammation, fever, hypo- or hypertension, and, in extreme cases, can lead to tissue and organ damage that may become fatal. The amounts of endotoxin in pharmaceutical products, therefore, are strictly regulated. Among the methods available for endotoxin detection and quantification, the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay is commonly used worldwide. While any pharmaceutical product can interfere with the LAL assay, nano-formulations represent a particular challenge due to their complexity. The purpose of this paper is to provide a practical guide to researchers inexperienced in estimating endotoxins in engineered nanomaterials and nanoparticle-formulated drugs. Herein, practical recommendations for performing three LAL formats including turbidity, chromogenic and gel-clot assays are discussed. These assays can be used to determine endotoxin contamination in nanotechnology-based drug products, vaccines, and adjuvants.

Detection of Endotoxin in Nano-formulations Using Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate LAL Assays

Detection of endotoxins in engineered nanomaterials represents one of the grand challenges in the field of nanomedicine. Here, we present a case study that describes the framework composed of three different LAL formats to estimate potential endotoxin contamination in nanoparticles.

When present in pharmaceutical products, a Gram-negative bacterial cell wall component endotoxin (often also called lipopolysaccharide) can cause ...

3D Printing of In Vitro Hydrogel Microcarriers by Alternating Viscous-Inertial Force Jetting

Microcarriers are beads with a diameter of 60-250 &#181;m and a large specific surface area, which are commonly used as carriers for large-scale cell cultures. Microcarrier culture technology has become one of the main techniques in cytological research and is commonly used in the field of large-scale cell expansion. Microcarriers have also been shown to play an increasingly important role in in vitro tissue engineering construction and clinical drug screening. Current methods for preparing microcarriers include microfluidic chips and inkjet printing, which often rely on complex flow channel design, an incompatible two-phase interface, and a fixed nozzle shape. These methods face the challenges of complex nozzle processing, inconvenient nozzle changes, and excessive extrusion forces when applied to multiple bioink. In this study, a 3D printing technique, called alternating viscous-inertial force jetting, was applied to enable the construction of hydrogel microcarriers with a diameter of 100-300 &#181;m. Cells were subsequently seeded on microcarriers to form tissue engineering modules. Compared to existing methods, this method offers a free nozzle tip diameter, flexible nozzle switching, free control of printing parameters, and mild printing conditions for a wide range of bioactive materials.

3D Printing of In Vitro Hydrogel Microcarriers by Alternating Viscous-Inertial Force Jetting

Presented here is a mild 3D printing technique driven by alternating viscous-inertial forces to enable the construction of hydrogel microcarriers. Homemade nozzles offer flexibility, allowing easy replacement for different materials and diameters. Cell binding microcarriers with a diameter of 50-500 &#181;m can be obtained and collected for further culturing.

Microcarriers are beads with a diameter of 60-250 &#181;m and a large specific surface area, which are commonly used as carriers for large-scale cell ...