Name: application of atomic force microscopy to detect early osteoarthritis
Uploaded: 2020-05-24T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Application of Atomic Force Microscopy to Detect Early Osteoarthritis at JoVE.com

We thank our co-authors from the original publication for their help and support.

The human cartilage samples were obtained from patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the University Hospital of Tuebingen, Germany, and the Winghofer-hospital, Rottenburg a.N., Germany, for end-stage OA of the knee. Full departmental, institutional, and local ethical committee approval were obtained before commencement of the study (project number 674/2016BO2). Written informed consent was received from all patients before participation. The methods were carried out in ac...

<ol>
	<li>Guilak, F., 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=The+pericellular+matrix+as+a+transducer+of+biomechanical+and+biochemical+signals+in+articular+cartilage.">The pericellular matrix as a transducer of biomechanical and biochemical signals in articular cartilage.</a> Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1068, 498-512 (2006).</li><li>Peters, H. C., 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=The+protective+role+of+the+pericellular+matrix+in+chondrocyte+apoptosis.">The protective role of the pericellular matrix in chondrocyte apoptosis.</a> Tissue Engineering Part A. 17 (15-16), 2017-2024 (2011).</li><li>Larson, C. M., Kelley, S. S., Blackwood, A. D., Banes, A. J., Lee, G. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Retention+of+the+native+chondrocyte+pericellular+matrix+results+in+significantly+improved+matrix+production.">Retention of the native chondrocyte pericellular matrix results in significantly improved matrix production.</a> Matrix Biology. 21 (4), 349-359 (2002).</li><li>Rolauffs, B., Williams, J. M., Grodzinsky, A. J., Kuettner, K. E., Cole, A. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Distinct+horizontal+patterns+in+the+spatial+organization+of+superficial+zone+chondrocytes+of+human+joints.">Distinct horizontal patterns in the spatial organization of superficial zone chondrocytes of human joints.</a> Journal of Structural Biology. 162 (2), 335-344 (2008).</li><li>Schumacher, B. L., Su, J. L., Lindley, K. M., Kuettner, K. E., Cole, A. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Horizontally+oriented+clusters+of+multiple+chondrons+in+the+superficial+zone+of+ankle,+but+not+knee+articular+cartilage.">Horizontally oriented clusters of multiple chondrons in the superficial zone of ankle, but not knee articular cartilage.</a> The Anatomical Record. 266 (4), 241-248 (2002).</li><li>Rolauffs, B., 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=Onset+of+preclinical+osteoarthritis:+the+angular+spatial+organization+permits+early+diagnosis.">Onset of preclinical osteoarthritis: the angular spatial organization permits early diagnosis.</a> Arthritis Rheumatology. 63 (6), 1637-1647 (2011).</li><li>Maver, U., Velnar, T., Gaber&#353;&#269;ek, M., Planin&#353;ek, O., Fin&#353;gar, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Recent+progressive+use+of+atomic+force+microscopy+in+biomedical+applications.">Recent progressive use of atomic force microscopy in biomedical applications.</a> TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry. 80, 96-111 (2016).</li><li>Polini, A., Yang, F., Ramalingam, M., Ramakrishna, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Physicochemical+characterization+of+nanofiber+composites.">Physicochemical characterization of nanofiber composites.</a> Nanofiber Composites for Biomedical Applications. , 97-115 (2017).</li><li>Danalache, M., Jacobi, L. F., Schwitalle, M., Hofmann, U. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assessment+of+biomechanical+properties+of+the+extracellular+and+pericellular+matrix+and+their+interconnection+throughout+the+course+of+osteoarthritis.">Assessment of biomechanical properties of the extracellular and pericellular matrix and their interconnection throughout the course of osteoarthritis.</a> Journal of Biomechanics. 97, 109409 (2019).</li><li>Danalache, M., 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=Changes+in+stiffness+and+biochemical+composition+of+the+pericellular+matrix+as+a+function+of+spatial+chondrocyte+organisation+in+osteoarthritic+cartilage.">Changes in stiffness and biochemical composition of the pericellular matrix as a function of spatial chondrocyte organisation in osteoarthritic cartilage.</a> Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 27 (5), 823-832 (2019).</li><li>Lin, D. C., Dimitriadis, E. K., Horkay, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Robust+strategies+for+automated+AFM+force+curve+analysis--I.+Non-adhesive+indentation+of+soft,+inhomogeneous+materials.">Robust strategies for automated AFM force curve analysis--I. Non-adhesive indentation of soft, inhomogeneous materials.</a> Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. 129 (3), 430-440 (2007).</li><li>Darling, E. M., Topel, M., Zauscher, S., Vail, T. P., Guilak, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Viscoelastic+properties+of+human+mesenchymally-derived+stem+cells+and+primary+osteoblasts,+chondrocytes,+and+adipocytes.">Viscoelastic properties of human mesenchymally-derived stem cells and primary osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes.</a> Journal of Biomechanics. 41 (2), 454-464 (2008).</li><li>Thambyah, A., Nather, A., Goh, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanical+properties+of+articular+cartilage+covered+by+the+meniscus.">Mechanical properties of articular cartilage covered by the meniscus.</a> Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 14 (6), 580-588 (2006).</li><li>Choi, A. P., Zheng, Y. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Estimation+of+Young's+modulus+and+Poisson's+ratio+of+soft+tissue+from+indentation+using+two+different-sized+indentors:+finite+element+analysis+of+the+finite+deformation+effect.">Estimation of Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of soft tissue from indentation using two different-sized indentors: finite element analysis of the finite deformation effect.</a> Medical Biological Engineering Computing. 43 (2), 258-264 (2005).</li><li>Jin, H., Lewis, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Determination+of+Poisson's+ratio+of+articular+cartilage+by+indentation+using+different-sized+indenters.">Determination of Poisson's ratio of articular cartilage by indentation using different-sized indenters.</a> Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. 126 (2), 138-145 (2004).</li></ol>

Using AFM as a novel and powerful technique to measure the biomechanical properties of biological materials at a nanoscale level, we measured the elastic properties of the ECM and PCM in human osteoarthritic articular cartilage. Cartilage samples were selected according to their predominant spatial pattern of chondrocyte organization as an image-based biomarker for local tissue degeneration. As expected, a strong decline in the values of elasticity of both ECM and PCM was observed along spatial chondrocyte reorganization...

Articular cartilage is an avascular, aneural tissue. Sparsely scattered chondrocytes produce, organize, and maintain an expansive extracellular matrix (ECM) into which they are embedded. As a distinct and specialized part of the ECM, chondrocytes are surrounded by a thin layer of specialized matrix known as the pericellular matrix (PCM). The PCM acts as a mechanosensitive cell-matrix interface1 that protects the chondrocytes2 and modulates their biosynthetic response3. As previously described4, in healthy cartilage, chondrocytes are arranged in specific, distinct spatial patterns that are specific for each tissue layer and joint4,5 and depend on joint-specific mechanical loading mechanisms6. These patterns change from pairs and strings in healthy cartilage to double strings with the onset of osteoarthritis (OA). With further progression of the disease the chondrocytes form small clusters, increasing gradually in size to big clusters in advanced OA. A complete loss of any organizational structure and induction of apoptosis is observed in end stage OA. Thus, chondrocyte cellular arrangement can be used as an image-based biomarker for OA progression4.
Biomechanical properties of cells and tissues not only regulate their shape and function but are also crucial for maintaining their vitality. Changes in elasticity can propagate or trigger the onset of major diseases like cancer or OA. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has emerged as a powerful tool to qualitatively and quantitatively characterize the biomechanical properties of specific biological target structures on a microscopic scale, measuring a wide range of force, from piconewton to the micronewton. The major application of AFM is to measure the surface topography and mechanical properties of samples at subnanometer resolution7. The measurement device consists of three main components: 1) An AFM probe, which is a sharp tip mounted on a cantilever and is used for the direct interaction with the surface of the sample. When force is applied to the cantilever, deformation of the latter occurs according to the measured tissue&#39;s properties. 2) An optical system that projects a laser beam onto the cantilever, which is then reflected to a detector unit. 3) A photodiode detector that catches the light deflected from the cantilever. It converts the received information regarding the laser deflection by the cantilever into a force curve that can be analyzed.
Thus, the main principle of AFM is the detection of the force acting between the AFM probe and the target structure of the sample. The force curves obtained describe the mechanical properties of the target structures on the sample surface like elasticity, charge distribution, magnetization, yield stress, and elastic plastic deformation dynamics8. An important advantage of AFM over other imaging techniques is that AFM can be used to measure the mechanical properties of live cells in medium or tissues in a native state without damaging the tissue. AFM can operate both in liquid or dry conditions. There is no requirement for sample preparation. AFM provides the possibility to image a specimen and measure its mechanical properties simultaneously in specimens that are near physiological conditions. In the present study we describe a novel approach to assess OA progression by measuring the elasticity of the PCM and ECM in native articular cartilage. The correlation of spatial organization of chondrocytes with the degree of local tissue degeneration provides a completely new perspective for early detection of OA. The functional relevance of these patterns has not been evaluated so far, however. Because the major function of articular cartilage is load bearing at low friction, the tissue must possess elastic properties. AFM allows measuring not only the elasticity of the ECM but also of the spatial cellular patterns embedded into their PCM. The observed correlation of elasticity with spatial pattern change of the chondrocytes is so strong that measuring elasticity alone may allow stratification of local tissue degeneration.
Elastic moduli of the PCM and ECM were assessed in 35 &#181;m-thin sections using an AFM system integrated into an inverted phase contrast microscope that allowed simultaneous visualization of the cartilage sample. This protocol is based on a study already published from our laboratory9 and specifically describes how to characterize the spatial arrangement of the chondrocytes and how to measure the elasticity of their associated PCM and ECM. With each pattern change of the chondrocytes, significant changes in elasticity can also be observed for both the PCM and ECM, allowing this technique to be used to directly measure the stage of degeneration of the cartilage.
This validated approach opens up a new way to evaluate OA progression and therapeutic effects at early stages before macroscopic tissue degradation actually starts to appear. Performing AFM measurements consistently is an arduous process. In the following protocol we describe how to prepare the sample to be measured by AFM, how to perform the actual AFM measurements starting with preparation of the cantilever, how to calibrate the AFM, and then how to perform the measurements. Step-by-step instructions give a clear and concise approach to obtain reliable data and provide basic strategies for processing and interpreting it. The discussion section also describes the most common pitfalls of this rigorous method and provides helpful troubleshooting tips.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Amphotericin B</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>A2942</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)</td>
			<td>CellHesion 200, JPK Instruments, Berlin, Germany</td>
			<td>JPK00518</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>AFM head</td>
			<td>(CellHesion 200) JPK</td>
			<td>JPK00518</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biocompatible sample glue</td>
			<td>JPK Instruments AG, Berlin, Germany</td>
			<td>H000033</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cantilever</td>
			<td>tip C, k &#188; 7.4 N/m, All-In-One-AleTl, Budget Sensors, Sofia, Bulgaria</td>
			<td>AIO-TL-10</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#39;s modified Eagle&#39;s medium (DMEM)</td>
			<td>Gibco, Life Technologies, Darmstadt, Germany</td>
			<td>41966052</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Inverted phase contrast microscope (Integrated with AFM)</td>
			<td>AxioObserver D1, Carl Zeiss Microscopy, Jena, Germany</td>
			<td>L201306_03</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Leibovitz&#39;s L-15 medium without L-glutamine</td>
			<td>(Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany)</td>
			<td>F1315</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microspheres</td>
			<td>Polysciences</td>
			<td>07313-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin-Streptomycin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P4333</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Petri dish heater associated with AFM</td>
			<td>JPK Instruments AG, Berlin, Germany</td>
			<td>T-05-0117</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scalpel</td>
			<td>Feather</td>
			<td>2023-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue culture dishes</td>
			<td>TPP Techno Plastic Products AG, Trasadingen, Switzerland</td>
			<td>TPP93040</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue-tek O.C.T. Compound</td>
			<td>Sakura Finetek, Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands</td>
			<td>SA6255012</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

application of atomic force microscopy to detect early osteoarthritis

Biomechanical properties of cells and tissues not only regulate their shape and function but are also crucial for maintaining their vitality. Changes in elasticity can propagate or trigger the onset of major diseases like cancer or osteoarthritis (OA). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has emerged as a strong tool to qualitatively and quantitatively characterize the biomechanical properties of specific biological target structures on a microscopic scale, measuring forces in a range from as small as the piconewton to the micronewton. Biomechanical properties are of special importance in musculoskeletal tissues, which are subjected to high levels of strain. OA as a degenerative disease of the cartilage results in the disruption of the pericellular matrix (PCM) and the spatial rearrangement of the chondrocytes embedded in their extracellular matrix (ECM). Disruption in PCM and ECM has been associated with changes in the biomechanical properties of cartilage. In the present study we used AFM to quantify these changes in relation to the specific spatial pattern changes of the chondrocytes. With each pattern change, significant changes in elasticity were observed for both the PCM and ECM. Measuring the local elasticity thus allows for drawing direct conclusions about the degree of local tissue degeneration in OA.

Along the physiopathological model from strings to double strings, to small and finally to big clusters, both ECM (Figure 3A) and PCM (Figure 3B) elastic moduli decreased significantly between each pattern change. The only exception was the difference in ECM between strings and double strings (p = 0.072). The results show that the ECM/PCM ratio (Figure 4B) did not change significantly, whereas a marked decrease in the absolute diffe...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Application of Atomic Force Microscopy to Detect Early Osteoarthritis at JoVE.com

Application of Atomic Force Microscopy to Detect Early Osteoarthritis

We present a method to investigate early osteoarthritic changes at the cellular level in articular cartilage by using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Biomechanical properties of cells and tissues not only regulate their shape and function but are also crucial for maintaining their vitality. Changes in ...

The biomechanical properties of cells and tissues regulate their function and vitality. AFM allows the early quantification of osteoarthritis at the cellular level based on elasticity measurements. AFM allows the acquisitions of measurements at a cellular level without damaging the sample and with a high resolution, reliability, and sensitivity.Biomechanical property changes occur early in osteoarthritis. Measuring the local elasticity of articular cartilage allows valid conclusions to be drawn about the degree of local tissue degeneration. To evaluate degenerative changes within the human knee joint, first use a scalpel to cut the articular cartilage as a whole from the subchondral bone and embed the cartilage sample in water-soluble embedding medium on the Cryotome knob that freezes under low temperature in the Cryotome device.When the sample has frozen, use a standard Cryotome to acquire a 35 micrometer thick sections of tissue from the topmost layer of the articular cartilage, collecting each section onto individual glass slides. When all of the sections have been obtained, rinse the samples three times in fresh PBS for five minutes per wash to remove the water-soluble embedding medium. Remove the first slide from the wash.After this, add two to three drops of biocompatible sample glue per section into individual AFM-compatible Petri dishes. Remove any excess solution from the sample and gently press the edges of the dried section onto the glue spots. After two minutes, carefully cover the bonded tissues with Leibovitz's L-15 medium without L-glutamine and place the dishes in a cell culture incubator until the samples are to be analyzed.To prepare the AFM device, adjust a gas block for measuring in a liquid environment on the AFM holder to that the upper surface is parallel to the holder, and use tweezers to carefully mount the selected cantilever onto the surface of the glass block so that the AFM tip with the microsphere protrudes over the polished optical plane. To stabilize the cantilever on the glass block, slide the metallic spring into the groove of the block, and use tweezers to clamp the top of the cantilever with the spring. Carefully place the glass block with the cantilever on the AFM head and secure the block with the integrated locking mechanism.Then mount the AFM head with the cantilever onto the AFM device with the spring facing to the left. To mount the sample onto the AFM device, place the sample Petri dish onto the AFM sample holder and set the Petri dish heater to 37 degrees Celsius. After about 20 minutes, open the device software and laser alignment and approach parameter setting windows.Next, turn on the stepper motor, the laser light, and the CCD camera and use the stepper motor function to lower the cantilever in 100 micrometer steps until the cantilever is fully submerged in the medium. Use the adjustment screws to direct the laser on top of the cantilever and use the AFM device screws to adjust the laser beam so that the reflected beam falls onto the center of the photodetector. Once the laser cantilever has been adjusted, adjust the photodetector as necessary to set the sum signal to one volt or above and the lateral and vertical deflections to close to zero.To obtain the calibration force curve, run a scanner approach with the approach parameters as indicated in the table. Once the bottom of the tissue culture dish is reached, retract the cantilever by 100 micrometers. Set up the run parameters as indicated in the table.And click run to start a measurement and to obtain a calibration force distance curve. The force curve is obtained as illustrated in the figure. On the calibration force distance curve, select the region for a linear fit of the retracted curve.Once the linear fit is in place, the values will be saved by the software. Then as the measurements are performed in medium at 37 degrees Celsius temperature, set the temperature variable in the software to 37 degrees to mimic the physiological conditions as closely as possible. To identify the conversite patterns in the cartilage sample sections, locate and identify the specific cellular patterns of articular cartilage from the osteoarthritic knee on the phase contrast microscope, which may include single strings indicative of healthy tissue areas, double strings indicative of the beginning of tissue degeneration, small clusters, which are signs of advanced tissue degeneration, and big clusters, indicative of end-stage tissue destruction.Once a specific desired pattern has been identified, for pericellular matrix measurements, position the cantilever in close proximity to the cells and measure two sites per chosen pattern per matrix type, nine times per measurement site including a sample size large enough to account for possible inaccuracies. Focus on the cellular matrix of the pattern to be measured and fix the computer mouse at that point. Next, focus on the probe and move the tip of the probe to the point previously fixed by the computer arrow.To conduct measurements of the extracellular matrix, select a region without any cells and perform an approach followed by a retraction so that the cantilever is positioned 100 micrometers above the tissue. Then click run to start the measurements, using the setpoint parameter obtained by calibration of the cantilever. To process the obtained data, open data processing software compatible with the data obtained from the AFM device and select the Hearst model in the software for processing the force distance curves.Set the Poisson ratio to 0.5, the tip shape as spherical, and the tip radius to 12.5 micrometers. Once all of the parameters have been adjusted, the results will be fitted and the Young's Modulus will be calculated by the software. Along the physiopathological model from strings to double strings and from small to big clusters, both extracellular and pericellular matrix elastic moduli decrease significantly between each pattern change except between strings and double strings.In addition, the extracellular-pericellular matrix ratio does not change significantly, whereas a marked decrease in the absolute differences in elasticity between the extracellular and pericellular matrices is observed. Elasticity values depend on various conditions such as the indentation depth or the cantilever tip properties. AFM is thus best suited to comparing different conditions within the same experimental setup.As the AFM measures the local elasticity of the sample, the sections need to be fixed in place in order to allow for precise measurements and to avoid cantilever damage. To further analyze the processes responsible for tissue elasticity changes, biochemical quantification of the structure of proteins of interest can be performed via western blots or ELISAs.

application-of-atomic-force-microscopy-to-detect-early-osteoarthritis

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

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 ...

Visualization of Recombinant DNA and Protein Complexes Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) allows for the visualizing of individual proteins, DNA molecules, protein-protein complexes, and DNA-protein complexes. On the end of the microscope's cantilever is a nano-scale probe, which traverses image areas ranging from nanometers to micrometers, measuring the elevation of macromolecules resting on the substrate surface at any given point. Electrostatic forces cause proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids to loosely attach to the substrate in random orientations and permit imaging. The generated data resemble a topographical map, where the macromolecules resolve as three-dimensional particles of discrete sizes (Figure 1) 1,2. Tapping mode AFM involves the repeated oscillation of the cantilever, which permits imaging of relatively soft biomaterials such as DNA and proteins. One of the notable benefits of AFM over other nanoscale microscopy techniques is its relative adaptability to visualize individual proteins and macromolecular complexes in aqueous buffers, including near-physiologic buffered conditions, in real-time, and without staining or coating the sample to be imaged. 
The method presented here describes the imaging of DNA and an immunoadsorbed transcription factor (i.e. the glucocorticoid receptor, GR) in buffered solution (Figure 2). Immunoadsorbed proteins and protein complexes can be separated from the immunoadsorbing antibody-bead pellet by competition with the antibody epitope and then imaged (Figure 2A). This allows for biochemical manipulation of the biomolecules of interest prior to imaging. Once purified, DNA and proteins can be mixed and the resultant interacting complex can be imaged as well. Binding of DNA to mica requires a divalent cation 3,such as Ni2+ or Mg2+, which can be added to sample buffers yet maintain protein activity. Using a similar approach, AFM has been utilized to visualize individual enzymes, including RNA polymerase 4 and a repair enzyme 5, bound to individual DNA strands. These experiments provide significant insight into the protein-protein and DNA-protein biophysical interactions taking place at the molecular level. Imaging individual macromolecular particles with AFM can be useful for determining particle homogeneity and for identifying the physical arrangement of constituent components of the imaged particles. While the present method was developed for visualization of GR-chaperone protein complexes 1,2 and DNA strands to which the GR can bind, it can be applied broadly to imaging DNA and protein samples from a variety of sources.

A tapping mode atomic force microscope (AFM) method for the visualization of plasmid DNA, cytoplasmic proteins, and DNA-protein complexes is described. The method includes alternate approaches for preparing samples for AFM imaging following biochemical manipulation. DNA containing specific protein interacting regions are observed in near-physiologic buffer conditions.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) allows for the visualizing of individual proteins, DNA molecules, protein-protein complexes, and DNA-protein complexes. On ...

Quantifying the Mechanical Properties of the Endothelial Glycocalyx with Atomic Force Microscopy

Our understanding of the interaction of leukocytes and the vessel wall during leukocyte capture is limited by an incomplete understanding of the mechanical properties of the endothelial surface layer. It is known that adhesion molecules on leukocytes are distributed non-uniformly relative to surface topography 3, that topography limits adhesive bond formation with other surfaces 9, and that physiological contact forces (&asymp; 5.0 &minus; 10.0 pN per microvillus) can compress the microvilli to as little as a third of their resting length, increasing the accessibility of molecules to the opposing surface 3, 7. We consider the endothelium as a two-layered structure, the relatively rigid cell body, plus the glycocalyx, a soft protective sugar coating on the luminal surface 6. It has been shown that the glycocalyx can act as a barrier to reduce adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelial surface 4. In this report we begin to address the deformability of endothelial surfaces to understand how the endothelial mechanical stiffness might affect bond formation. Endothelial cells grown in static culture do not express a robust glycocalyx, but cells grown under physiological flow conditions begin to approximate the glycocalyx observed in vivo 2. The modulus of the endothelial cell body has been measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM) to be approximately 5 to 20 kPa 5. The thickness and structure of the glycocalyx have been studied using electron microscopy 8, and the modulus of the glycocalyx has been approximated using indirect methods, but to our knowledge, there have been no published reports of a direct measurement of the glycocalyx modulus in living cells. In this study, we present indentation experiments made with a novel AFM probe on cells that have been cultured in conditions to maximize their glycocalyx expression to make direct measurements of the modulus and thickness of the endothelial glycocalyx.

The mechanical characteristics of endothelial glycocalyx were measured by indentation using micron sized spheres on AFM cantilevers. Endothelial cells were cultured in a custom chamber under physiological flow conditions to induce glycocalyx expression. Data were analyzed using a thin film model to determine the glycocalyx thickness and modulus.

Our  understanding of the interaction of leukocytes and the vessel wall during  leukocyte capture is limited by an incomplete understanding of the ...

Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Living Cells Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Mechanical properties of cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) play important roles in many biological processes including stem cell differentiation, tumor formation, and wound healing. Changes in stiffness of cells and ECM are often signs of changes in cell physiology or diseases in tissues. Hence, cell stiffness is an index to evaluate the status of cell cultures. Among the multitude of methods applied to measure the stiffness of cells and tissues, micro-indentation using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) provides a way to reliably measure the stiffness of living cells. This method has been widely applied to characterize the micro-scale stiffness for a variety of materials ranging from metal surfaces to soft biological tissues and cells. The basic principle of this method is to indent a cell with an AFM tip of selected geometry and measure the applied force from the bending of the AFM cantilever. Fitting the force-indentation curve to the Hertz model for the corresponding tip geometry can give quantitative measurements of material stiffness. This paper demonstrates the procedure to characterize the stiffness of living cells using AFM. Key steps including the process of AFM calibration, force-curve acquisition, and data analysis using a MATLAB routine are demonstrated. Limitations of this method are also discussed.

This paper demonstrates a protocol to characterize the mechanical properties of living cells by means of microindentation using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM).

Mechanical  properties of cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) play important roles in many  biological processes including stem cell differentiation, ...

Shock Wave Application to Cell Cultures

Shock waves nowadays are well known for their regenerative effects. Basic research findings showed that shock waves do cause a biological stimulus to target cells or tissue without any subsequent damage. Therefore, in vitro experiments are of increasing interest. Various methods of applying shock waves onto cell cultures have been described. In general, all existing models focus on how to best apply shock waves onto cells.
However, this question remains: What happens to the waves after passing the cell culture? The difference of the acoustic impedance of the cell culture medium and the ambient air is that high, that more than 99% of shock waves get reflected! We therefore developed a model that mainly consists of a Plexiglas built container that allows the waves to propagate in water after passing the cell culture. This avoids cavitation effects as well as reflection of the waves that would otherwise disturb upcoming ones. With this model we are able to mimic in vivo conditions and thereby gain more and more knowledge about how the physical stimulus of shock waves gets translated into a biological cell signal (&#8220;mechanotransduction&#34;).

Shock waves nowadays are well known for their regenerative effects. Therefore in vitro experiments are of increasing interest. We therefore developed a model for in vitro shock wave trials (IVSWT) that enables us to mimic in vivo conditions thereby avoiding distracting physical effects.

Shock waves nowadays are well known for their regenerative effects. Basic research findings showed that shock waves do cause a biological stimulus to ...

Surface Potential Measurement of Bacteria Using Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy

Surface potential is a commonly overlooked physical characteristic that plays a dominant role in the adhesion of microorganisms to substrate surfaces. Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) is a module of atomic force microscopy (AFM) that measures the contact potential difference between surfaces at the nano-scale. The combination of KPFM with AFM allows for the simultaneous generation of surface potential and topographical maps of biological samples such as bacterial cells. Here, we employ KPFM to examine the effects of surface potential on microbial adhesion to medically relevant surfaces such as stainless steel and gold. Surface potential maps revealed differences in surface potential for microbial membranes on different material substrates. A step-height graph was generated to show the difference in surface potential at a boundary area between the substrate surface and microorganisms. Changes in cellular membrane surface potential have been linked with changes in cellular metabolism and motility. Therefore, KPFM represents a powerful tool that can be utilized to examine the changes of microbial membrane surface potential upon adhesion to various substrate surfaces. In this study, we demonstrate the procedure to characterize the surface potential of individual methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA100 cells on stainless steel and gold using KPFM.

Here, we present a protocol explaining the use of Kelvin probe force microscopy as a tool for generating high resolution nano-scale surface potential maps. This tool was applied to assess the role of surface potential on the binding capacity of microorganisms to substrate surfaces.

Surface potential is a commonly overlooked physical characteristic that plays a dominant role in the adhesion of microorganisms to substrate surfaces. ...

Novel Atomic Force Microscopy Based Biopanning for Isolation of Morphology Specific Reagents against TDP-43 Variants in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Because protein variants play critical roles in many diseases including TDP-43 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), alpha-synuclein in Parkinson&#8217;s disease and beta-amyloid and tau in Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, it is critically important to develop morphology specific reagents that can selectively target these disease-specific protein variants to study the role of these variants in disease pathology and for potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications. We have developed novel atomic force microscopy (AFM) based biopanning techniques that enable isolation of reagents that selectively recognize disease-specific protein variants. There are two key phases involved in the process, the negative and positive panning phases. During the negative panning phase, phages that are reactive to off-target antigens are eliminated through multiple rounds of subtractive panning utilizing a series of carefully selected off-target antigens. A key feature in the negative panning phase is utilizing AFM imaging to monitor the process and confirm that all undesired phage particles are removed. For the positive panning phase, the target antigen of interest is fixed on a mica surface and bound phages are eluted and screened to identify phages that selectively bind the target antigen. The target protein variant does not need to be purified providing the appropriate negative panning controls have been used. Even target protein variants that are only present at very low concentrations in complex biological material can be utilized in the positive panning step. Through application of this technology, we acquired antibodies to protein variants of TDP-43 that are selectively found in human ALS brain tissue. We expect that this protocol should be applicable to generating reagents that selectively bind protein variants present in a wide variety of different biological processes and diseases.

Using atomic force microscopy in combination with biopanning technology we created a negative and positive biopanning system to acquire antibodies against disease-specific protein variants present in any biological material, even at low concentrations. We were successful in obtaining antibodies to TDP-43 protein variants involved in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Because protein variants play critical roles in many diseases including TDP-43 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), alpha-synuclein in ...

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 ...

High Throughput Traction Force Microscopy Using PDMS Reveals Dose-Dependent Effects of Transforming Growth Factor-&#946; on the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

Cellular contractility is essential in diverse aspects of biology, driving processes that range from motility and division, to tissue contraction and mechanical stability, and represents a core element of multi-cellular animal life. In adherent cells, acto-myosin contraction is seen in traction forces that cells exert on their substrate. Dysregulation of cellular contractility appears in a myriad of pathologies, making contractility a promising target in diverse diagnostic approaches using biophysics as a metric. Moreover, novel therapeutic strategies can be based on correcting the apparent malfunction of cell contractility. These applications,&#160;however, require direct quantification of these forces.
We have developed silicone elastomer-based traction force microscopy (TFM) in a parallelized multi-well format. Our use of a silicone rubber, specifically polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), rather than the commonly employed hydrogel polyacrylamide (PAA) enables us to make robust and inert substrates with indefinite shelf-lives requiring no specialized storage conditions. Unlike pillar-PDMS based approaches that have a modulus in the GPa range, the PDMS used here is very compliant, ranging from approximately 0.4 kPa to 100 kPa. We create a high-throughput platform for TFM by partitioning these large monolithic substrates spatially into biochemically independent wells, creating a multi-well platform for traction force screening that is compatible with existing multi-well systems.
In this manuscript, we use this multi-well traction force system to examine the Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT); we induce EMT in NMuMG cells by exposing them to TGF-&#946;, and to quantify the biophysical changes during EMT. We measure the contractility as a function of concentration and duration of TGF-&#946; exposure. Our findings here demonstrate the utility of parallelized TFM in the context of disease biophysics.

High Throughput Traction Force Microscopy Using PDMS Reveals Dose-Dependent Effects of Transforming Growth Factor-&amp;#946; on the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

We present a high throughput traction force assay fabricated with silicone rubber (PDMS). This novel assay is suitable for studying physical changes in cell contractility during various biological and biomedical processes and diseases. We demonstrate this method's utility by measuring a TGF-&#946; dependent increase in contractility during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Cellular contractility is essential in diverse aspects of biology, driving processes that range from motility and division, to tissue contraction and ...

Fabrication and Implementation of a Reference-Free Traction Force Microscopy Platform

Quantifying cell-induced material deformation provides useful information concerning how cells sense and respond to the physical properties of their microenvironment. While many approaches exist for measuring cell-induced material strain, here we provide a methodology for monitoring strain with sub-micron resolution in a reference-free manner. Using a two-photon activated photolithographic patterning process, we demonstrate how to generate mechanically and bio-actively tunable synthetic substrates containing embedded arrays of fluorescent fiducial markers to easily measure three-dimensional (3D) material deformation profiles in response to surface tractions. Using these substrates, cell tension profiles can be mapped using a single 3D image stack of a cell of interest. Our goal with this methodology is to make traction force microscopy a more accessible and easier to implement tool for researchers studying cellular mechanotransduction processes, especially newcomers to the field.

This protocol provides instructions for implementing multiphoton lithography to fabricate three-dimensional arrays of fluorescent fiducial markers embedded in poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogels for use as reference-free, traction force microscopy platforms. Using these instructions, measurement of 3D material strain and calculation of cellular tractions is simplified to promote high-throughput traction force measurements.

Quantifying cell-induced material deformation provides useful information concerning how cells sense and respond to the physical properties of their ...