Quantitative investigation of calcimimetic R568 on beta cell adhesion and mechanics using AFM single-cell force spectroscopy

•Influence of R568 on cell adhesion and mechanics of single cells is quantitatively evaluated.•Activation of CaSR increases the adhesive parameters between two cells.•Activation of CaSR increases the elasticity of single cells.•Speed of separation between two attached cells increases adhesive parameters.•Single cell mechanics contribute to the E-cadherin mediated adhesion. In this study we use a novel approach to quantitatively investigate mechanical and interfacial properties of clonal β-cells using AFM-Single Cell Force Spectroscopy (SCFS). MIN6 cells were incubated for 48h with 0.5mM Ca2+ ± the calcimimetic R568 (1μM). AFM-SCFS adhesion and indentation experiments were performed by using modified tipless cantilevers. Hertz contact model was applied to analyse force–displacement (F–d) curves for determining elastic or Young’s modulus (E). Our results show CaSR-evoked increases in cell-to-cell adhesion parameters and E modulus of single cells, demonstrating that cytomechanics have profound effects on cell adhesion characterization.