Real-Time, Label-Free Sensing of Epidermal Growth Factor-Induced Changes of Cell Adhesion

Conventional approaches for assessing changes in cell adhesion often lack of time resolution and require invasive force or nonnative label. To circumvent such problems, we have developed an innovative approach of using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) to track real-time changes in cell adhesion. We have experimentally and computationally established a correlation between time-dependent changes in energy dissipation factor (ΔD) measured from the QCM-D and the level of cell adhesion complex (i.e., focal adhesions). Based on this correlation, we have been able to investigate the epidermal growth factor-induced change in cell adhesion and its regulation. We have also been able to evaluate the effects of various pharmacological interventions of this dynamic change in cell adhesion. The results of our study suggest that this QCM-D-based approach can potentially be exploited for fundamental study of cellular processes such as cell signaling, trafficking, and mechanotransduction, as well as for biomedical research on drug and biomarker screening.