# Advancing Visualization and Quantification of Subcellular and Biomolecular Mechanics through Mechanochemical Protocols

> **NIH NIH R35** · CLARKSON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $359,803

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Exploring cellular mechanics represents a groundbreaking frontier to unravel the complexities of life and
disease. Far from being static entities, cells are dynamic, active materials that generate and sustain mechanical
forces, serving as critical indicators for various pathologies. Despite remarkable strides in cell mechanics, we
stand in a new era that beckons us to surmount many challenges that have long stymied progress. These
challenges span from technological obstacles to limited versatile methodologies, each representing a unique
puzzle and challenge in biomechanics.
 Our MIRA program embarks on an unprecedented journey to address biomechanics challenges by
leveraging an interdisciplinary approach that melds the strengths of chemistry and mechanical engineering. The
PI's expertise in mechanochemistry, mechanical sensing, and fluorescent microscopy has positioned him as a
suitable researcher to use mechanochemical protocols to visualize biomechanical mapping into subcellular and
molecular levels. We will address the following challenges: First, the cell mechanics field lacks a versatile
technique for quantifying multiscale cell mechanics. Existing methods like Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and
Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) offer partial solutions but come with their own sets of
limitations, such as intricate setups, specialized expertise, and low throughput. Second, high-precision, real-time
force measurements at the nanoscale are missing. While AFM provides nanoscale resolution, its limitations for
in vivo applications and the viscoelastic nature of cells add layers of complexity that further complicate data
interpretation. Third, the obstacle of accurately measuring in vivo dynamic biomechanical regulations is a
significant hurdle in cell mechanics. Existing techniques, although precise, are generally unsuitable for in vivo
applications due to their invasive nature and complex setups. The dynamic milieu of living systems further
complicates the issue, demanding rapid and continuous measurements. These challenges are not mere
obstacles; they are opportunities, beckoning us to innovate, explore, and revolutionize biomechanics. As we
embark on this exhilarating journey, we are not just solving puzzles but pushing the boundaries of what is
possible, opening new avenues for research and clinical applications.
This MIRA program will establish a pioneering analytical platform for biomechanics, from building a
comprehensive library of Molecular Force Gauges (MFGs), integrating these force gauges into various biological
targets for precise biomechanical measurements, to developing a state-of-the-art super-resolution
biomechanical microscopy BM-STORM to visualize and quantify cellular and subcellular biomechanics with
unprecedented detail. Our research agenda will be based on a three-fold approach. First, we will pioneer a
comprehensive library of Molecular Force Gauges (MFGs) designed to offer unprecedented insight...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10941491
- **Project number:** 1R35GM154994-01
- **Recipient organization:** CLARKSON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Xiaocun Lu
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $359,803
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-17 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10941491

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10941491, Advancing Visualization and Quantification of Subcellular and Biomolecular Mechanics through Mechanochemical Protocols (1R35GM154994-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10941491. Licensed CC0.

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