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High‐Frequency Mechanostimulation of Cell Adhesion
Author(s) -
Kadem Laith F.,
Suana K. Grace,
Holz Michelle,
Wang Wei,
Westerhaus Hannes,
Herges Rainer,
SelhuberUnkel Christine
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201609483
Subject(s) - cell adhesion , adhesion , force spectroscopy , integrin , cell adhesion molecule , stimulus (psychology) , biophysics , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , nanotechnology , materials science , biology , biochemistry , atomic force microscopy , organic chemistry , psychology , psychotherapist
Cell adhesion is regulated by molecularly defined protein interactions and by mechanical forces, which can activate a dynamic restructuring of adhesion sites. Previous attempts to explore the response of cell adhesion to forces have been limited to applying mechanical stimuli that involve the cytoskeleton. In contrast, we here apply a new, oscillatory type of stimulus through push–pull azobenzenes. Push–pull azobenzenes perform a high‐frequency, molecular oscillation upon irradiation with visible light that has frequently been applied in polymer surface relief grating. We here use these oscillations to address single adhesion receptors. The effect of molecular oscillatory forces on cell adhesion has been analyzed using single‐cell force spectroscopy and gene expression studies. Our experiments demonstrate a reinforcement of cell adhesion as well as upregulated expression levels of adhesion‐associated genes as a result of the nanoscale “tickling” of integrins. This novel type of mechanical stimulus provides a previously unprecedented molecular control of cellular mechanosensing.