Abstract
Gold nanoparticles are receiving considerable attention due to their novel properties and the potential variety of their uses. Long gold nanorods with dimensions of approximately 20 × 400 nm exhibit strong light scattering and can be easily observed under dark-field microscopy. Here we describe the use of this light-scattering property to track micrometer scale strains in collagen gels and thick films, which result from cell traction forces applied by neonatal heart fibroblasts. The use of such collagen constructs to model cell behavior in the extracellular matrix is common, and describing local mechanical environments on such a small scale is necessary to understand the complex factors associated with the remodeling of the collagen network. Unlike other particles used for tracking purposes, gold nanorods do not photobleach, allowing their optical signal to be tracked for longer periods of time, and they can be easily synthesized and coated with various charged or neutral shells, potentially reducing the effect of their presence on the cell system or allowing selective placement. Techniques described here are ultimately applicable for investigations with a wide variety of cells and cell environments.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | NanoBiotechnology Protocols |
| Pages | 1-20 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 3 2013 |
Publication series
| Name | Methods in Molecular Biology |
|---|---|
| Volume | 1026 |
| ISSN (Print) | 1064-3745 |
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Keywords
- Cell culture
- Cells
- Collagen
- Fibroblasts
- Gold nanorods
- Nanoparticles
- Particle tracking
- Strain
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Cite this
High-aspect-ratio gold nanorods : Their synthesis and application to image cell-induced strain fields in collagen films. / Chernak, Davin J.; Sisco, Patrick N.; Goldsmith, Edie C.; Baxter, Sarah C.; Murphy, Catherine J.
NanoBiotechnology Protocols. 2013. p. 1-20 (Methods in Molecular Biology; Vol. 1026).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
}
TY - CHAP
T1 - High-aspect-ratio gold nanorods
T2 - Their synthesis and application to image cell-induced strain fields in collagen films
AU - Chernak, Davin J.
AU - Sisco, Patrick N.
AU - Goldsmith, Edie C.
AU - Baxter, Sarah C.
AU - Murphy, Catherine J.
PY - 2013/9/3
Y1 - 2013/9/3
N2 - Gold nanoparticles are receiving considerable attention due to their novel properties and the potential variety of their uses. Long gold nanorods with dimensions of approximately 20 × 400 nm exhibit strong light scattering and can be easily observed under dark-field microscopy. Here we describe the use of this light-scattering property to track micrometer scale strains in collagen gels and thick films, which result from cell traction forces applied by neonatal heart fibroblasts. The use of such collagen constructs to model cell behavior in the extracellular matrix is common, and describing local mechanical environments on such a small scale is necessary to understand the complex factors associated with the remodeling of the collagen network. Unlike other particles used for tracking purposes, gold nanorods do not photobleach, allowing their optical signal to be tracked for longer periods of time, and they can be easily synthesized and coated with various charged or neutral shells, potentially reducing the effect of their presence on the cell system or allowing selective placement. Techniques described here are ultimately applicable for investigations with a wide variety of cells and cell environments.
AB - Gold nanoparticles are receiving considerable attention due to their novel properties and the potential variety of their uses. Long gold nanorods with dimensions of approximately 20 × 400 nm exhibit strong light scattering and can be easily observed under dark-field microscopy. Here we describe the use of this light-scattering property to track micrometer scale strains in collagen gels and thick films, which result from cell traction forces applied by neonatal heart fibroblasts. The use of such collagen constructs to model cell behavior in the extracellular matrix is common, and describing local mechanical environments on such a small scale is necessary to understand the complex factors associated with the remodeling of the collagen network. Unlike other particles used for tracking purposes, gold nanorods do not photobleach, allowing their optical signal to be tracked for longer periods of time, and they can be easily synthesized and coated with various charged or neutral shells, potentially reducing the effect of their presence on the cell system or allowing selective placement. Techniques described here are ultimately applicable for investigations with a wide variety of cells and cell environments.
KW - Cell culture
KW - Cells
KW - Collagen
KW - Fibroblasts
KW - Gold nanorods
KW - Nanoparticles
KW - Particle tracking
KW - Strain
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84883168394&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84883168394&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/978-1-62703-468-5-1
DO - 10.1007/978-1-62703-468-5-1
M3 - Chapter
C2 - 23749565
AN - SCOPUS:84883168394
SN - 9781627034678
T3 - Methods in Molecular Biology
SP - 1
EP - 20
BT - NanoBiotechnology Protocols
ER -