Scientists Invent 3D Printed Fiber Microprobe For Measuring In Vivo Biomechanical Properties Of Tissues
Fiber Sensing Shenzhen University scientists have developed a compact fiber optic nanomechanical probe (FONP) to measure the biomechanical properties of tissues and even single cells in vivo.
Published in the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, the Shenzhen University researchers applied femtosecond laser-induced two-photon polymerization technology to produce fiber tip microprobes with ultrahigh mechanical precision of up to 2.1 nanonewtons.
This high-precision mechanical sensor system enables the in vivo measurement of the biomechanical properties of tissues, single cells and other types of soft biological materials. The results could have a major impact on the future development of atomic force microscopes with intact fibers for biomechanical testing and nanomanipulation.
One of the lead researchers, Professor Yiping Wang, said: "The biomechanical properties of various tissues in the human body span seven dimensions, from the softest cells to the hardest bones. We have developed flexible techniques that can be used to design fibers and fabricating - flexible microprobe tips - to measure the precise in vivo biomechanics of almost all human tissues, including the most accurate constants.
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is one of the few technologies that can perform precise biomechanical measurements. However, benchtop AFM systems have the typical limitations of size and complex reaction systems. It also requires a specific geometry of the sample for measurement, further limiting its applicability to in vivo biomechanical measurements.
"Our work has led to a new generation of all-fiber AFM with a flexible method to obtain the optimal fiber-tip microprobe design for each in vivo experiment that is both reliable and more miniaturized," said first author Dr. Meng Qiang Xu.
Professor Changrui Liao pioneered fiber-tip microdevices that used femtosecond laser-induced two-photon polymerization technology for gas sensing. Here, his group developed a force microprobe technology with multiple spring constants in view of the microstructure of different fiber tips, in particular the micro-cantilever with a complementary topological design.
This development makes intact fiber AFM a next-generation tool for basic research involving in vivo biomechanical measurements of different tissue types.
The team used finite element methods and topology theory to optimize the fiber-side micro-power probe design. The optimized microprobe can achieve a reliable measurement capacity of up to 2.1 nanonewtons.
Professor Sandor Casas said: “This is a milestone and just the beginning. We hope that this technique will be a powerful tool for in vivo biomechanical analysis of human tissues and cells to better understand the fundamentals of biomechanical changes associated with diseases such as cancer, and also a critical process in developmental biology.
For more information: Mengqiang Xu et al., 3D Printed Fiber Optic Nanomechanical Bioprobe, International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing (2023). DOI: 10.1088/2631-7990/acb741
Provided by the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing
Excerpt : Scientists devise 3D-printed fiber microprobe to measure biomechanical properties of tissue in vivo (10 February 2023) https://phys.org/news/2023-02-scientists-3d-fiber-microprobe-vivo (accessed 10 February , 2023) February 2023). .html
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