title: A cost-effective method to immobilize hydrated soft-tissue samples for atomic force microscopy.
abstract: Immobilizing hydrated soft tissue specimens for atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a challenge. Here, we describe a simple and very cost-effective immobilization method, based on the use of transglutaminase in an aqueous environment, and successfully apply it to AFM characterization of human native Wharton's Jelly (nWJ), the gelatinous connective tissue matrix of the umbilical cord. A side-by-side comparison with a widely used polyphenolic protein-based tissue adhesive (Corning Cell-Tak), which is known to bind strongly to virtually all inorganic and organic surfaces in aqueous environments, shows that both adhesives successfully immobilize nWJ in its physological hydrated state. The cost of transglutaminase, however, is over 3000-fold lower than that of Cell-Tak, making it a very attractive method for immobilizing soft tissues for AFM characterization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth - The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Suchit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth - The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Marysuna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilkerson
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, UTHealth - The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zaske
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth - The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth - The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth - The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Triolo
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D016591:Histocytological Preparation Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D059631:Wharton Jelly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D014014:Tissue Adhesives
keywords: Wharton’s jelly; atomic force microscopy; bioadhesives; polyphenolic proteins; soft tissue; transglutaminase; wet-adhesion