Cell and molecular mechanics of biological materials

Abstract

Living cells can sense mechanical forces and convert them into biological responses. Similarly, biological and biochemical signals are known to influence the abilities of cells to sense, generate and bear mechanical forces. Studies into the mechanics of single cells, subcellular components and biological molecules have rapidly evolved during the past decade with significant implications for biotechnology and human health. This progress has been facilitated by new capabilities for measuring forces and displacements with piconewton and nanometre resolutions, respectively, and by improvements in bio-imaging. Details of mechanical, chemical and biological interactions in cells remain elusive. However, the mechanical deformation of proteins and nucleic acids may provide key insights for understanding the changes in cellular structure, response and function under force, and offer new opportunities for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. This review discusses some basic features of the deformation of single cells and biomolecules, and examines opportunities for further research.

A frequency-based hypothesis for mechanically targeting and selectively attacking cancer cells

“…This is fundamentally due to several obstacles that might emerge when dealing with complex microstructures characterizing living systems, difficulties essentially arising from the fact that, during the test, intrinsic changes of the biological structure, movements of its mechanical apparatus and biochemical responses can all in principle interfere with the actual property being measured. Furthermore, for example at the single-cell scale, mechanical features may be drastically different from one site to another, as a consequence of reorganization dynamics activated by adhesion, migration and polymerization-depolymerization processes which change the internal configuration of the cytoskeleton and, as a result, may determine non-homogeneous distribution of stiffness and deformation [2,3,52]. In this respect, Lekka et al [31] show, for instance, that depth of indentation, the substrate on which the cells are spread, the load rate as well as the position and time of cell poking might all influence the stiffness atomic force microscopy measurements.…”

“…All rights reserved. and motility being driven by the assembly ( polymerization) and disassembly (depolymerization) of branched actin filaments [2,3].…”

Mechanoregulation of gene expression in fibroblasts

“…A physical force may be applied in a variety of ways such as through substrate stretching or through movement of fluid or air. Three types of mechanical loading on cells can be categorized (Bao and Suresh, 2003), and each serves a different purpose. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and magnetic twisting cytometry (MTC) are local probes that induce deformation in a portion of a cell and may be used in quantifying local cellular mechanical properties (Tao et al, 1992;Wang and Ingber, 1995).…”

Imaging and measuring the rituximab-induced changes of mechanical properties in B-lymphoma cells using atomic force microscopy

“…Cell mechanical properties play an important role in critical cellular functions, including migration, division and shape [11]. Studies into the mechanics of single cells have implicated that cell mechanics are closely related to human health and disease [12,13]. Any deviations in the mechanical properties of cells may affect the physiological functions and give rise to disease, while disease can also result in mechanical properties changes in living cells [14].…”