Analysis of the core functional modules of a cell adhesion force measuring instrument

　　Cell Adhesion Force Measurement Instrumentis a specialized instrument for precisely measuring interaction forces between cells and a substrate, with important applications in cell biology, biomedical engineering and related fields. By accurately measuring these interactions, it helps researchers understand cell behavior and disease mechanisms and develop new treatments. For example, the CellHesion 200 system from Germany’s JPK measures cell–cell and cell–substrate interactions, quantitatively measures cell elasticity and responses to external mechanical pressure, and provides single-cell quantitative results with single-molecule precision. Its innovative method supports cell-interaction research with high-quality data, and its software automatically determines key parameters related to cell adhesion force.

　　Cell Adhesion Force Measurement InstrumentCore functional modules:

　　1. Mechanical Loading System

　　Function: supplies controlled tensile or compressive force to reproduce the forces experienced by cells in real environments, such as fluid shear and tensile force.

　　Components:

　　Drive: a stepper motor, piezoelectric ceramic actuator or pneumatic component applies precise force or displacement.

　　Force-transfer probe: generally a micrometer-scale probe, such as a glass bead, silicone pad or magnetic microsphere, that directly contacts the cell surface.

　　Loading Modes:

　　Tensile mode: pulls the cell with a probe and measures the force required to detach it from the substrate, as in a single-cell force experiment.

　　Compression mode: applies vertical pressure to determine the threshold for cell deformation or rupture.

　　2. Displacement Detection System

　　Function: monitors probe displacement in real time and combines it with mechanical data to calculate adhesion force.

　　Technology Types:

　　Optical detection: a laser displacement sensor or microscopic imaging system, such as a CCD camera, with nanometer-scale resolution.

　　Electrical detection: capacitive or resistive displacement sensors that respond rapidly to minute displacement.

　　3. Signal Acquisition and Processing System

　　Data-acquisition card: converts mechanical and displacement signals into electrical signals at a sampling rate capable of capturing dynamic events such as the instant a cell tears away.

　　Software Algorithms:

　　Calculate adhesion metrics such as maximum tensile force and the integral of the stress–strain curve.

　　Correct for the effect of the probe’s own elastic deformation on the results.