Adhesion Force Measurement with a Flexible Film-type Sensor

Abstract

Understanding cell-to-cell and cell-to-substrate adhesion forces is useful for the reproducible cultivation and detection of defective cells. In this study, the relationship between tensile pressure and the signal from a bonded-layer sensor was determined. We have developed a thin and flexible sensor film for measurement of force between contact interfaces that consists of a layer of pressure-sensitive material placed between two electrodes. When the layers are bonded, the sensor can be used to measure tensile force. The electrodes were fabricated from flexible copper-polyimide laminated film by photolithography and a wet-etching process, and a pressure-sensitive rubber layer was inserted between the electrodes and bonded to them with silver paste. Calibration tests were performed using a universal testing system with an affixed load cell for accurate force measurement. Tensile pressure was measured with the sensor, and the resolution of pressure detection was below the sub-kPa level.