Force sensing of hepatic stellate cell in real-time with photonic crystal cellular force microscopy

The contractile force exerted by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) plays a critical role in both physiological and pathological processes in the liver. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a key inducer of HSC activation and contraction, can rapidly trigger cellular contractions within minutes, placing demands on the spatiotemporal resolution of detection tools. However, existing methods for measuring HSC mechanics often fail to simultaneously achieve precise mechanical quantification, high spatiotemporal resolution, and high-throughput analysis. To address these limitations, we employed a photonic crystal cellular force microscopy system that utilizes structural color changes of a photonic crystal substrate to sensitively detect minute cellular deformations and nanoscale vertical forces. This system integrates single-cell precision, high spatiotemporal resolution, and high-throughput capabilities. Using this platform, we successfully visualized and quantified the subcellular mechanical distribution within minutes during the contraction and migration of individual HSCs. Our findings demonstrate that photonic crystal cellular force microscopy provides a real-time, intuitive, and powerful approach for investigating HSC biomechanics, offering potential mechanical insights into liver disease mechanisms and drug screening.