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Quantifying cellular forces: Practical considerations of traction force microscopy for dermal fibroblasts
Author(s) -
De La Pena Abigail,
Mukhtar Marah,
Yokosawa Ryosuke,
Carrasquilla Santiago,
Simmons Chelsey S.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/exd.14166
Subject(s) - troubleshooting , mechanobiology , computer science , tractive force , cell mechanics , traction (geology) , nanotechnology , materials science , chemistry , medicine , engineering , cell , mechanical engineering , anatomy , cytoskeleton , biochemistry , operating system
Traction force microscopy (TFM) is a well‐established technique traditionally used by biophysicists to quantify the forces adherent biological cells exert on their microenvironment. As image processing software becomes increasingly user‐friendly, TFM is being adopted by broader audiences to quantify contractility of (myo)fibroblasts. While many technical reviews of TFM’s computational mechanics are available, this review focuses on practical experimental considerations for dermatology researchers new to cell mechanics and TFM who may wish to implement a higher throughput and less expensive alternative to collagen compaction assays. Here, we describe implementation of experimental methods, analysis using open‐source software and troubleshooting of common issues to enable researchers to leverage TFM for their investigations into skin fibroblasts.