STReTCh: a strategy for facile detection of mechanical forces across proteins in cells

Numerous proteins experience and respond to mechanical forces as an integral part of their cellular functions, but measuring these forces remains a practical challenge. Here, we present a compact, 11 kDa molecular tension sensor termed STReTCh (Sensing Tension by Reactive Tag Characterization). Unlike existing genetically encoded tension sensors, STReTCh does not rely on experimentally demanding Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based measurements and is compatible with typical fix-and-stain protocols. Using a magnetic tweezers assay, we calibrate the STReTCh module and show that it responds to physiologically relevant, piconewton forces. As proof-of-concept, we use an extracellular STReTCh-based sensor to visualize cell-generated forces at integrin-based adhesion complexes. In addition, we incorporate STReTCh into vinculin, a cytoskeletal adaptor protein, and show that STReTCh reports on forces transmitted between the cytoskeleton and cellular adhesion complexes. These data illustrate the utility of STReTCh as a broadly applicable tool for the measurement molecular-scale forces in biological systems.

Improving Printed Angle Sensor Performance by Compression-Tension Sensor Pair Compensation

Silver nanoparticle angle sensors are inkjet printed on a flexible PET substrate and implemented as pairs of compression and tension side folding individuals into a rigid experimental setup. Resulting combined signals improved the individual sensor responses due to their compensating characteristics, and gave the best performances in the existing literature in terms of linearity, sensor life-time, static and cyclic drift, hysteresis and dynamic dependency. Proposed method is promising for eliminating the major limitations on the printed sensor use in flexible hinges and paving the way to fully soft all-integrated foldable robots.

Improving Printed Angle Sensor Performance by Compression-Tension Sensor Pair Compensation

Silver nanoparticle angle sensors are inkjet printed on a flexible PET substrate and implemented as pairs of compression and tension side folding individuals into a rigid experimental setup. Resulting combined signals improved the individual sensor responses due to their compensating characteristics, and gave the best performances in the existing literature in terms of linearity, sensor life-time, static and cyclic drift, hysteresis and dynamic dependency. Proposed method is promising for eliminating the major limitations on the printed sensor use in flexible hinges and paving the way to fully soft all-integrated foldable robots.

Tension Sensor Based on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Reveals Fiber Diameter-Dependent Mechanical Factors During Myelination

Oligodendrocytes (OLs) form a myelin sheath around neuronal axons to increase conduction velocity of action potential. Although both large and small diameter axons are intermingled in the central nervous system (CNS), the number of myelin wrapping is related to the axon diameter, such that the ratio of the diameter of the axon to that of the entire myelinated-axon unit is optimal for each axon, which is required for exerting higher brain functions. This indicates there are unknown axon diameter-dependent factors that control myelination. We tried to investigate physical factors to clarify the mechanisms underlying axon diameter-dependent myelination. To visualize OL-generating forces during myelination, a tension sensor based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was used. Polystyrene nanofibers with varying diameters similar to neuronal axons were prepared to investigate biophysical factors regulating the OL-axon interactions. We found that higher tension was generated at OL processes contacting larger diameter fibers compared with smaller diameter fibers. Additionally, OLs formed longer focal adhesions (FAs) on larger diameter axons and shorter FAs on smaller diameter axons. These results suggest that OLs respond to the fiber diameter and activate mechanotransduction initiated at FAs, which controls their cytoskeletal organization and myelin formation. This study leads to the novel and interesting idea that physical factors are involved in myelin formation in response to axon diameter.

Super-resolved visualization of single DNA-based tension sensors in cell adhesion

Cell-extracellular matrix sensing plays a crucial role in cellular behavior and leads to the formation of a macromolecular protein complex called the focal adhesion. Despite their importance in cellular decision making, relatively little is known about cell-matrix interactions and the intracellular transduction of an initial ligand-receptor binding event on the single-molecule level. Here, we combine cRGD-ligand-decorated DNA tension sensors with DNA-PAINT super-resolution microscopy to study the mechanical engagement of single integrin receptors and the downstream influence on actin bundling. We uncover that integrin receptor clustering is governed by a non-random organization with complexes spaced at 20–30 nm distances. The DNA-based tension sensor and analysis framework provide powerful tools to study a multitude of receptor-ligand interactions where forces are involved in ligand-receptor binding.

Verification of numerical analysis for unwinding cable with time-varying unwinding velocity

In this study, the nonlinear unwinding behavior of cables in a transient state wound in a cylindrical spool package was analyzed using unwinding dynamics. In previous studies, investigations were conducted using constant unwinding velocity. However, this method is limited due to complexities regarding the analysis of the actual behavior where the unwinding velocity increases or decreases. In this paper, to prevent problems, such as twisting, entanglement, and cutting, that occur during the rapid unwinding process, an experimental device that converts unwinding velocity over time was developed. Using a cable unwinding system, high-speed camera, and tension sensor, the equation of motion, which was derived in a previous study using the expanded Hamilton theorem, was experimentally verified. Moreover, the cable’s tension change and behavior in the unwinding process were analyzed, and a method to solve the unwinding problem was studied.

Interfacial Tension Sensor for Low Dosage Surfactant Detection

Currently there are no available methods for in-line measurement of gas-liquid interfacial tension during the flotation process. Microfluidic devices have the potential to be deployed in such settings to allow for a rapid in-line determination of the interfacial tension, and hence provide information on frother concentration. This paper presents the development of a simple method for interfacial tension determination based on a microfluidic device with a flow-focusing geometry. The bubble generation frequency in such a microfluidic device is correlated with the concentration of two flotation frothers (characterized by very different adsorption kinetic behavior). The results are compared with the equilibrium interfacial tension values determined using classical profile analysis tensiometry.

Effect of IDT position parameters on SAW yarn tension sensor sensitivity

In this paper, the effect of the interdigital transducer (IDT) position parameters on the surface acoustic wave (SAW) yarn tension sensor sensitivity is investigated. The stress–strain characteristic of substrate was studied by the combination of finite element simulation and regression analysis method. According to this characteristic, the function relationship between the SAW yarn tension sensor sensitivity and the IDT position parameters was built using the regression analysis method. The monotonicity of the regression function was also given. On this basis, a novel sensitivity optimal scheme was proposed and solved by the quadratic programming method. Its solution demonstrates that the optimum sensitivity can be obtained when the IDT is 8.9 mm to the left side of the substrate and the IDT is 0.3 mm to the top edge of the substrate within a domain of the IDT position parameters. The SAW yarn tension sensor with corresponding IDT position parameters was fabricated to validate the correctness of the sensitivity optimal scheme. The measured results indicate that the SAW yarn tension sensor sensitivity can reach 813.69 Hz/g, which confirms that the novel scheme is effective.