Visualization of dynamics of nanoscale physical properties of living cell surface probed by high-speed ion conductance microscopy

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17H04818
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: General applied physics
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Shinji 金沢大学, ナノ生命科学研究所, 准教授 (70455864)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: プローブ顕微鏡 / ナノピペット / ナノポア / 生細胞イメージング / イオン伝導顕微鏡

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study is to develop a scanning probe microscopy technique that can visualize the nanoscale physical dynamics occurring in the living cell surface. In order to visualize and measure the cell surface without damage, we significantly improved in actual performances of scanning ion conductance microscopy. By developing a high-speed scanner and its vibration control technique, improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the high-resolution nanopipette probe, and improving the stability of the ion conduction measurement, we were able to visualize the dynamics of the nanostructures on living cell surfaces within a few seconds per frame. The spatiotemporal resolution of our developed system demonstrated the highest performance than other existing similar scanning probe techniques. Furthermore, we have succeeded in developing a technique to simultaneously measure the topography of cell surface and physical properties, such as the local mechanical properties and local surface charge density.

Free Research Field

物性計測

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

生物の境界の世界である、細胞表層で生じている様々な物理動態を計測する技術は、生命現象を理解ための重要な計測技術となるに違いない。本研究は、細胞表層のナノ形状動態の可視化技術や、ナノ物性の動態を計測する技術の開発を推進し、従来計測技術の性能を大きく向上した。これによって、従来は捉えることが不可能だった細胞表層の生命現象を計測できる可能性を大きく広げた。