Biomembrane Force Probe (BFP): Designs, advancements and recent
applications to live-cell mechanobiology
Abstract
Mechanical forces play a crucial role in biological processes at the
molecular and cellular levels. Recent advancements in dynamic force
spectroscopies (DFS) have enabled the application and measurement of
forces and displacements with high resolutions, providing insights into
the mechanical pathways involved in various diseases, including cancer,
cardiovascular disease, and COVID-19. Among the various DFS techniques,
biomembrane force probe (BFP) advancements have improved our ability to
measure bond kinetics and cellular mechanosensing with pico-newton and
nano-meter resolutions. In this review, we provide a comprehensive
overview of the classical BFP-DFS setup and highlight key advancements,
including the development of dual biomembrane force probe (dBFP) and
fluorescence biomembrane force probe (fBFP). BFP-DFS not only enables
the investigation of dynamic bond behaviors on living cells, but also
contributed significantly to our understanding of the specific
ligand–receptor axes mediated cell mechanosensing. Besides, we explore
the contribution of discoveries made possible by BFP-DFS in cancer
biology, thrombosis, and inflammation, as well as predict future BFP
upgrades to improve output and feasibility. Although BFP-DFS is still a
niche research modality, its contribution to the growing field of cell
mechanobiology is unparalleled, and its potential to elucidate novel
therapeutic discoveries is significant.