Abstract
With the advancement of the field of biotribology, considerable interest has arisen in the study of cell and tissue frictional properties. From the perspective of medical device development, the frictional properties between a rigid surface and underlying cells and tissues are of a particular clinical interest. As with many bearing surfaces, it is likely that contact asperities exist at the size scale of single cells and below. Thus, a technique to measure cellular frictional properties directly would be beneficial from both a clinical and a basic science perspective. In the current study, an atomic force microscope (AFM) with a 5 µm diameter borosilicate spherical probe simulating endovascular metallic stent asperities was used to characterize the surface frictional properties of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in contact with a metallic endovascular stent. Various treatments were used to alter cell structure, in order to better understand the cellular components and mechanisms responsible for governing frictional properties. The frictional coefficient of the probe on VSMCs was found to be approximately 0.06. This frictional coefficient was significantly affected by cellular crosslinking and cytoskeletal depolymerization agents. These results demonstrate that AFM-based lateral force microscopy is a valuable technique to assess the friction properties of individual single cells on the micro-scale.
Highlights
While significant steps have been made towards understanding the bulk mechanical properties of living cells, comparatively little is known about their surface frictional properties
The principal goal of the current study was to investigate the development of an atomic force microscope (AFM)-based method for measurement of cell surface frictional properties on the micro-scale, with a specific interest in vascular smooth muscle cells
The mean coefficient of friction for untreated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) found in the current study (0.06 ± 0.02) is similar to macroscale values previously reported for endothelial cells (μ = 0.03 – 0.06) [6] and corneal epithelial cells (μ = 0.05 ± 0.02) [22]
Summary
While significant steps have been made towards understanding the bulk mechanical properties of living cells, comparatively little is known about their surface frictional properties. The study of cellular frictional properties is of interest for a variety of reasons. Numerous physiological processes including blood flow [1], articulating cartilaginous tissues [2], respiration [3], cell adhesion [4], and cell migration [5], are all affected in some manner by cellular and tissue frictional properties. With regard to endovascular surgical procedures, increased knowledge of cellular frictional properties could be of a significant clinical value. The deployment of endovascular devices results in the exertion of mechanical shear forces on underlying vascular endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) [6]. Stent struts are in direct contact with underlying
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