Spatiotemporally Super-resolved Volumetric Traction Force Microscopy.
Colin-York HE., Javanmardi Y., Barbieri L., Li D., Korobchevskaya K., Guo Y., Hall C., Taylor A., Khuon S., Sheridan G., Chew T-L., Li D., Moeendarbary E., Fritzsche M.
Quantification of mechanical forces is a major challenge across biomedical sciences. Yet, such measurements are essential to understanding the role of biomechanics in cell regulation and function. Traction force microscopy remains the most broadly applied force probing technology but typically restricts itself to single plane two-dimensional quantifications with limited spatio-temporal resolution. Here, we introduce an enhanced force measurement technique combining 3D super-resolution fluorescence structural illumination microscopy and traction force microscopy (3D-SIM-TFM) offering increased spatio-temporal resolution, opening-up unprecedented insights into physiological three-dimensional force production in living cells.