Short communication: a method for cell separation of Ocimum basilicum CMC cells for AFM measurement

Abstract

In plant cell culture technology, plant cells grow in large agglomerates. For various investigations, however, single cells are required. One important parameter is the adhesion strength of single cells to surfaces or to each other. Hereby, e.g. the influence of the surface material and structure is of interest. To assess the adhesion forces of single cells to a surface, measurements with an atomic force microscope (AFM) can be applied. In the case of the plant cells Ocimum basilicum CMC, these cells grow as large cell agglomerates, so that a direct AFM single cell measurement is not possible. By developing a suitable cell separation method, it was possible to obtain vital single cells of the Ocimum basilicum CMC type and also to carry out adhesion measurements of these cells on a glass surface. No explicit methods for cell separation of plant cell cultures could be found in the literature. This method is therefore a new innovation that could also be used for other cell lines.