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Dynamics of cell detachment

Cell detachment is central to a broad range of physio-pathological processes (e.g. differential growth, polarization, migration, and metastasis), however, there are no quantitative methods to study this phenomenon. We have developed a new tool: programmed sub-cellular release, to study cell detachment dynamics, focal adhesion disassembly, and the regulators of cell detachment. This technique exploits electrochemically programmed release of an adhesion promoting RGD sequence chemically tethered to gold lines on a lithographically patterned device, and allows both spatial and temporal control of cell detachment. The figure shows a sequence of phase contrast images during release of a 3T3 fibroblast cell. A small voltage pulse is applied to an individually addressable electrode (red arrow), releasing the RGD peptide. After an induction time the cell begins to contract, from which we can quantitatively determine the contraction dynamics.