Imaging Cell‐Matrix Adhesions and Collective Migration of Living Cells by Electrochemiluminescence Microscopy

Abstract Cell‐matrix adhesions play essential roles in a variety of biological processes. Herein, we report a label‐free method to map cell‐matrix adhesions of single living cells on an electrode surface by electrochemiluminescence (ECL). An indium tin oxide electrode modified with a silica nanochannel membrane was used as the substrate electrode, at which the ECL generation from freely diffusing luminophores provided a distinct visual contrast between adhesion sites and noncontacted domains, thus selectively revealing the former in a label‐free manner. With this methodology, we studied the spatial distribution, as well as dynamic variation, of cell‐matrix adhesions and the adhesion strength at the subcellular level. Cell‐matrix adhesions of an advancing cell sheet were finally imaged to study the movement of cells in collective migration. A statistical analysis suggests that cells on the far side of leading edge also have the propensity to migrate and do not act as just passive followers.