Mapping Single-Cell–Substrate Interactions by Surface Plasmon Resonance Microscopy

We report the imaging of the cell–substrate adhesion of a single cell with subcellular spatial resolution. Osmotic pressure was introduced to provide a controllable mechanical stimulation to the cell attached to a substrate, and high-resolution surface plasmon resonance microscopy was used to map the response of the cell, from which local cell–substrate adhesion was determined. In addition to high spatial resolution, the approach is noninvasive and fast and allows for the continuous mapping of cell–substrate interactions and single-cell movements.