CISMM

The nanoManipulator System integrates haptic force feedback control of a nanoscale probe tip with imaging in a fluorescence optical microscope. It has been used for virus, chromosome, cell and clot manipulation experiments. Beyond developments in instrumentation and software, CISMM develops methodologies for force measurements. Through our work with our Thrombosis collaborators on fibrin fiber mechanics, we have developed methods of fabricating “structured surfaces” (SS). These engineered surfaces enable stretching experiments in which biological fiber samples are suspended across channels and there for free of the confounding mechanical influence underlying surfaces. We will be developing integrated in-plane uniaxial and biaxial strain capabilities that will greatly expand the host of mechanical interrogations our collaborators can perform.

At right is (A) side view of experimental set up. Inverted optical microscope objective images the fibrin manipulation through the coverslip with structured channel-ridge surface. Suspended fibrin fibers are labeled with fluorescent beads and then stretched with the afm tip. Perspective view (b,d) of afm tip, and fibrin fiber suspended across channel. Fluorescence images of suspended fiber before being stretched (c) after and stretched to ~200% strain by the afm tip (e).