Quantification of the erythrocyte deformability using atomic force microscopy: Correlation study of the erythrocyte deformability with atomic force microscopy and hemorheology

Abstract

Atomic force microscope (AFM) is a powerful and prospective tool in the studies of the cellular deformability within a single cell. However, the reliability of using AFM in estimating the cellular average deformability was suspected. Hemorheology, one of common clinical examinations, can assess the deformability of erythrocytes. In order to validate the reliability in estimating the cellular deformability with AFM, the correlation was studied between the stiffness of the erythrocyte membrane with AFM and the deformation index with the hemorheology test. Blood samples were taken from 5 diabetes mellitus patients and 5 healthy non-obese people. The erythrocyte deformability was detected by AFM and the hemorheology test, respectively. Excellent correlation (r = 0.907, p = 0.000 < 0.01) was found between the average erythrocyte stiffness with AFM and the deformation index obtained from the hemorheology test. Besides, it was found that the average stiffness and the deformation index of diabetes mellitus patients were significantly higher than those of healthy non-obese people (p = 0.007 and p = 0.003). The result was consistent with the impairment of erythrocytes form diabetes mellitus patients. Therefore, it is the first time that the quantification relation of the erythrocyte deformability was investigated with AFM and the hemorheology test, and the feasible and reliable were validated that AFM is used to investigate the mechanical properties of different living cells qualitatively and quantitatively.

Constant or fluctuating hyperglycemias increases cytomembrane stiffness of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in culture: roles of cytoskeletal rearrangement and nitric oxide synthesis

“…Following preparation of the samples, an Autoprobe Cp AFM (Autoprobe CP Research, Veeco, USA) was operated in contact mode in air to obtain AFM images and perform force spectroscopy. Stiffness of the endothelial cells was determined using AFM techniques as described previously and measured with soft cantilevers, since the area of interaction between the tip and cell was larger and thus mechanically less noisy [12,15,16,25]. Silicon nitride tips (UL20B, Park Scientific Instruments) were used for all AFM measurements.…”

Dynamic deformability of sickle red blood cells in microphysiological flow

“…Even though RBC deformability has been associated with vaso-occlusion in SCD, we have limited knowledge on dynamic deformation characteristics of RBCs adhered to endothelium associated proteins in microphysiological fluid flow conditions. Various approaches have been utilized to measure RBC deformability, including optical tweezers 25,26 , micropipette aspiration 27 , atomic force microscopy (AFM) 28,29 , and microfluidics 8,18 . Even though optical tweezers, micropipette aspiration and AFM analyses have enabled sensitive and controlled measurement of RBC mechanical properties, these methods are typically performed in open environments without physiological fluid flow.…”

The Role of Free Radicals in Hemolytic Toxicity Induced by Atmospheric‐Pressure Plasma Jet

“…While the values increased in both gas APPJ treatments, air APPJ induced more leakage in the RBC membranes. In previous studies, RBCs from hemolytic anemia patients were measured to have increased membrane stiffness, as well as reduced deformability [18, 19]. Therefore, we tried to confirm the increase of elastic moduli of RBCs by using AFM nanoindentation methods.…”