Super-resolution Traction Force Microscopy for measuring mechanical forces in living cells
Traction Force Microscopy (TFM) has long been used to measure the forces cells exert on their environment – recent advances mean it is ready to go SUPER-RESOLUTION. Euro-BioImaging is now offering all researchers access to super-resolution Traction Force Microscopy (SR-TFM) at our Finnish Advanced Light Microscopy Node in Turku, Finland. This method was originally developed to improve the spatial resolution of TFM, because we wanted to measure the forces from individual focal adhesions in photosensitive cells such as human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). In this interview, Dr Aki Stubb, from the University of Cambridge, explains how super-resolution Traction Force Microscopy works.
Super-resolution TFM requires a combination of microscopy methods that are all offered at the Finnish Advanced Light Microscopy Node of Euro-BioImaging. The facility offers fast and high-quality confocal microscopy and/or spinning disk microscopy methods needed to image the fluorescent beads embedded in the hydrogels, as well as the atomic force microscopy methods needed to calibrate the stiffness of the gels, and the actual TFM mathematical analysis needed for the final results. Furthermore, the facility offers full support and personalised service on all the steps, from gel preparation to data analysis.