Nanoscale optomechanical actuators for controlling mechanotransduction in living cells

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Khalid Salaita, Emory University; Zheng Liu, Emory University; Yang Liu, Emory University; Yuan Chang, Emory University; Hamid Reza Seyf, Georgia Institute of Technology; Asegun Henry, Georgia Institute of Technology; Alexa Mattheyses, Emory University; Kevin Yehl, Emory University; Yun Zhang, Emory University; Zhuangqun Huang, Bruker Nano Surfaces
• Language: English
• Date: 2016-02-01
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2016 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/NMETH.3689
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Nature Methods
• ISSN: 1548-7091
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 2
• Start Page: 143
• End Page: +
• Grant/Funding Information: This research project was also supported in part by the Emory University Integrated Cellular Imaging Microscopy Core.; The authors are grateful for support from the US National Institutes of Health (R01-GM097399), the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, the Camille-Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, the National Science Foundation (NSF) EAGER Award (1362113) and the NSF CAREER Award (1350829).
• Keywords: ACTIVATION; FLUORESCENCE; NANOPARTICLES; Science & Technology; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; AXIAL RESOLUTION; ADHESION; GROWTH; FORCE; Biochemical Research Methods; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; TENSION; GOLD NANORODS; MODULATION
• Research Categories: Chemistry, Biochemistry; Engineering, Biomedical

Abstract

To control receptor tension optically at the cell surface, we developed an approach involving optomechanical actuator nanoparticles that are controlled with near-infrared light. Illumination leads to particle collapse, delivering piconewton forces to specific cell surface receptors with high spatial and temporal resolution. We demonstrate optomechanical actuation by controlling integrin-based focal adhesion formation, cell protrusion and migration, and T cell receptor activation.