Real-time Biomechanical Characterisation of Cytoskeletal Remodelling

As progenitors for tissue, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) with ability of self-proliferation and differentiation into various cell types such as osteocytes and adipocytes show great potential applications for tissue engineering. Stem cell fate regulation is highly affected by the cytoskeleton structure and mechanical properties. In this paper, quantitative Atomic Force Microscopy (Q-AFM) was used to continuously characterise topography and biomechanical properties while applying cytoskeleton disruptors to hMSCs. The cell stiffness (quantified by Youngs modulus), primarily governed by the cytoskeleton network, had quantifiable changes associated with cytoskeleton polymerisation and depolymerisation when treatments were applied. Furthermore, with Q-AFM measurements, these changes were tracked in real time over a period of minutes to hours, and the biomechanical properties of the cells were tracked through the applied treatment and subsequent recovery post treatment. Here we present the capability of Q-AFM to perform real time biomechanical characterisation of living cells, directly correlated to intracellular structure and cytoskeletal remodelling.