Recent Advances on the Model, Measurement Technique, and Application of Single Cell Mechanics

Abstract

Since the cell was discovered by humans, it has been an important research subject for researchers. The mechanical response of cells to external stimuli and the biomechanical response inside cells are of great significance for maintaining the life activities of cells. These biomechanical behaviors have wide applications in the fields of disease research and micromanipulation. In order to study the mechanical behavior of single cells, various cell mechanics models have been proposed. In addition, the measurement technologies of single cells have been greatly developed. These models, combined with experimental techniques, can effectively explain the biomechanical behavior and reaction mechanism of cells. In this review, we first introduce the basic concept and biomechanical background of cells, then summarize the research progress of internal force models and experimental techniques in the field of cell mechanics and discuss the latest mechanical models and experimental methods. We summarize the application directions of cell mechanics and put forward the future perspectives of a cell mechanics model.

Cancer-Nano-Interaction: From Cellular Uptake to Mechanobiological Responses

“…The mechanical properties of cells can be quantified by calibration techniques. Even though OP is an effective technique for mechanobiological measurements, it may induce unwanted detrimental effects to cells due to using a high-powered laser, altering the mechanics of cells [88,107].…”

“…In response to the mechanical changes in their microenvironments, cells can either reinforce their cytoskeleton by polymerizing their structural proteins or fluidize their cytoskeleton to reduce their stiffness. Microtubule (MT), intermediate filament, and actin filament (F-actin) are three major fiber parts of the cytoskeleton [88] (see Figure 3b-d). MTs (diameter ≈25 nm), composed of two subunits (α and β tubulins), are stiff and hollow structures of the cytoskeleton, radiating outward from the central organelle.…”

“…Various techniques can be implemented to measure the mechanobiological properties of single cells, such as viscosity and elasticity. The elastic modulus and viscosity modulus are typically used to express the mechanical properties of cells [25,88]. In the elastic modulus, the applied forces are related to cell deformation, while in the viscosity, time-dependent stress relaxation is measured in response to a step displacement [21,96].…”

Mechanical Studies of the Third Dimension in Cancer: From 2D to 3D Model

“…The studies of mechanics in 3D systems for cancer research have enabled researchers to develop better technologies and adapt protocols from material science to cancer biology. So far, at a cellular level, mechanics can be measured with different methods probing stiffness at the nano-scale and micro-scale, including micropipette aspiration [ 57 , 58 , 59 ] and optical stretcher [ 60 ] for measuring mechanics of whole cells in suspensions, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) for the investigation of single adherent cells [ 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 ]. For example, many studies used AFM on different types of epithelial cancer cells, showing that cancer cells are generally softer and display lower intrinsic variability in cell stiffness than non-malignant cells [ 65 , 66 ].…”

Finite Element Simulations of Mechanical Behaviour of Endothelial Cells

“…In the past few decades, the development of microrheological techniques [ 9 ] has made quantitative mechanical measurements of single living cells feasible. For our research, the following testing methods are most relevant: microplate stretcher [ 10 ], microplate manipulation [ 11 , 12 ], and atomic force microscopy (AFM) [ 13 ].…”