A Novel Cell Traction Force Microscopy to Study Multi-Cellular System
Figure 7
(a-c) The convergence test was performed to determine the maximum fine mesh size needed to obtain the accurate solution.
The mesh sets with different Δx and Δy (Δx = Δy = 3.23 µm, 4.84 µm, and 6.45 µm, respectively) were tested respectively. The traction distribution map and traction magnitude histograms from three mesh-size displayed uniform feature patterns. Dashed lines in orange outline the cells boundaries. (d) All three cases showed sum ratio of net forces within 7%, satisfying the force equilibrium requirement. (e) The root mean square (RMS) difference of traction between 3.23 and 4.84 µm meshes was about 64.06 Pa (1.28% of maximum computed traction), and the difference between 4.84 and 6.45 µm mesh sizes was about 192.7 Pa (3.86% of maximum traction). The comparison indicates that when mesh size is reduced to 4.84 µm or below, the traction output starts to show minimum variation.