1
|
Chang Z, Li LY, Shi ZJ, Liu W, Xu GK. Beyond stiffness: Multiscale viscoelastic features as biomechanical markers for assessing cell types and states. Biophys J 2024; 123:1869-1881. [PMID: 38835167 PMCID: PMC11267428 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell mechanics are pivotal in regulating cellular activities, diseases progression, and cancer development. However, the understanding of how cellular viscoelastic properties vary in physiological and pathological stimuli remains scarce. Here, we develop a hybrid self-similar hierarchical theory-microrheology approach to accurately and efficiently characterize cellular viscoelasticity. Focusing on two key cell types associated with livers fibrosis-the capillarized liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and activated hepatic stellate cells-we uncover a universal two-stage power-law rheology characterized by two distinct exponents, αshort and αlong. The mechanical profiles derived from both exponents exhibit significant potential for discriminating among diverse cells. This finding suggests a potential common dynamic creep characteristic across biological systems, extending our earlier observations in soft tissues. Using a tailored hierarchical model for cellular mechanical structures, we discern significant variations in the viscoelastic properties and their distribution profiles across different cell types and states from the cytoplasm (elastic stiffness E1 and viscosity η), to a single cytoskeleton fiber (elastic stiffness E2), and then to the cell level (transverse expansion stiffness E3). Importantly, we construct a logistic-regression-based machine-learning model using the dynamic parameters that outperforms conventional cell-stiffness-based classifiers in assessing cell states, achieving an area under the curve of 97% vs. 78%. Our findings not only advance a robust framework for monitoring intricate cell dynamics but also highlight the crucial role of cellular viscoelasticity in discerning cell states across a spectrum of liver diseases and prognosis, offering new avenues for developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies based on cellular viscoelasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Chang
- Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, Department of Engineering Mechanics, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Li-Ya Li
- Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Shi
- Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, Department of Engineering Mechanics, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenjia Liu
- Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Guang-Kui Xu
- Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, Department of Engineering Mechanics, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bergamaschi G, Taris KKH, Biebricher AS, Seymonson XMR, Witt H, Peterman EJG, Wuite GJL. Viscoelasticity of diverse biological samples quantified by Acoustic Force Microrheology (AFMR). Commun Biol 2024; 7:683. [PMID: 38834871 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06367-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In the context of soft matter and cellular mechanics, microrheology - the use of micron-sized particles to probe the frequency-dependent viscoelastic response of materials - is widely used to shed light onto the mechanics and dynamics of molecular structures. Here we present the implementation of active microrheology in an Acoustic Force Spectroscopy setup (AFMR), which combines multiplexing with the possibility of probing a wide range of forces ( ~ pN to ~nN) and frequencies (0.01-100 Hz). To demonstrate the potential of this approach, we perform active microrheology on biological samples of increasing complexity and stiffness: collagen gels, red blood cells (RBCs), and human fibroblasts, spanning a viscoelastic modulus range of five orders of magnitude. We show that AFMR can successfully quantify viscoelastic properties by probing many beads with high single-particle precision and reproducibility. Finally, we demonstrate that AFMR to map local sample heterogeneities as well as detect cellular responses to drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Bergamaschi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLaB Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kees-Karel H Taris
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLaB Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas S Biebricher
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLaB Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Xamanie M R Seymonson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLaB Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hannes Witt
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLaB Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erwin J G Peterman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLaB Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gijs J L Wuite
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLaB Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lima I, Silva A, Sousa F, Ferreira W, Freire R, de Oliveira C, de Sousa J. Measuring the viscoelastic relaxation function of cells with a time-dependent interpretation of the Hertz-Sneddon indentation model. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30623. [PMID: 38770291 PMCID: PMC11103437 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The Hertz-Sneddon elastic indentation model is widely adopted in the biomechanical investigation of living cells and other soft materials using atomic force microscopy despite the explicit viscoelastic nature of these materials. In this work, we demonstrate that an exact analytical viscoelastic force model for power-law materials, can be interpreted as a time-dependent Hertz-Sneddon-like model. Characterizing fibroblasts (L929) and osteoblasts (OFCOLII) demonstrates the model's accuracy. Our results show that the difference between Young's modulus E Y obtained by fitting force curves with the Hertz-Sneddon model and the effective Young's modulus derived from the viscoelastic force model is less than 3%, even when cells are probed at large forces where nonlinear deformation effects become significant. We also propose a measurement protocol that involves probing samples at different indentation speeds and forces, enabling the construction of the average viscoelastic relaxation function of samples by conveniently fitting the force curves with the Hertz-Sneddon model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I.V.M. Lima
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 60440-900, Ceará, Brazil
| | - A.V.S. Silva
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 60440-900, Ceará, Brazil
- Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Pau dos Ferros, 59900-000, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - F.D. Sousa
- Núcleo de Biologia Experimental, Universidade de Fortaleza, Fortaleza, 60811-905, Ceará, Brazil
| | - W.P. Ferreira
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 60440-900, Ceará, Brazil
| | - R.S. Freire
- Central Analítica, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 60440-900, Ceará, Brazil
| | - C.L.N. de Oliveira
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 60440-900, Ceará, Brazil
| | - J.S. de Sousa
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 60440-900, Ceará, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Leartprapun N, Zeng Z, Hajjarian Z, Bossuyt V, Nadkarni SK. Laser speckle rheological microscopy reveals wideband viscoelastic spectra of biological tissues. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl1586. [PMID: 38718128 PMCID: PMC11078189 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl1586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Viscoelastic transformation of tissue drives aberrant cellular functions and is an early biomarker of disease pathogenesis. Tissues scale a range of viscoelastic moduli, from biofluids to bone. Moreover, viscoelastic behavior is governed by the frequency at which tissue is probed, yielding distinct viscous and elastic responses modulated over a wide frequency band. Existing tools do not quantify wideband viscoelastic spectra in tissues, leaving a vast knowledge gap. We present wideband laser speckle rheological microscopy (WB-SHEAR) that reveals elastic and viscous response over sub-megahertz frequencies previously not investigated in tissue. WB-SHEAR uses an optical, noncontact approach to quantify wideband viscoelastic spectra in specimens spanning a range of moduli from low-viscosity fibrin to highly elastic bone. Via laser scanning, micromechanical imaging is enabled to access wideband viscoelastic spectra in heterogeneous tumor specimens with high spatial resolution (25 micrometers). The ability to interrogate the viscoelastic landscape of diverse biospecimens could transform our understanding of mechanobiological processes in various diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nichaluk Leartprapun
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ziqian Zeng
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Zeinab Hajjarian
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Veerle Bossuyt
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Seemantini K. Nadkarni
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Du Y, Cheng D, Yang Z, Liu Y, Zhao Q, Sun M, Li H, Zhao X. A Simulation of the Mechanical Testing of the Cell Membrane and Cytoskeleton. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:431. [PMID: 38675243 PMCID: PMC11052030 DOI: 10.3390/mi15040431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Cell models play a crucial role in analyzing the mechanical response of cells and quantifying cellular damage incurred during micromanipulation. While traditional models can capture the overall mechanical behavior of cells, they often lack the ability to discern among distinct cellular components. Consequently, by employing dissipative particle dynamics, this study constructed a triangular network-like representation of the cell membrane along with cross-linked cytoskeletal chains. The mechanical properties of both the membrane and cytoskeleton were then analyzed through a series of simulated mechanical tests, validated against real-world experiments. The investigation utilized particle-tracking rheology to monitor changes in the mean square displacements of membrane particles over time, facilitating the analysis of the membrane's storage and loss moduli. Additionally, the cytoskeletal network's storage and loss moduli were examined via a double-plate oscillatory shear experiment. The simulation results revealed that both the membrane and cytoskeleton exhibit viscoelastic behavior, as evidenced by the power-law dependency of their storage and loss moduli on frequency. Furthermore, indentation and microinjection simulations were conducted to examine the overall mechanical properties of cells. In the indentation experiments, an increase in the shear modulus of the membrane's WLCs correlated with a higher Young's modulus for the entire cell. Regarding the microinjection experiment, augmenting the microinjection speed resulted in reduced deformation of the cell at the point of membrane rupture and a lower percentage of high strain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Du
- The School of Computer and Information Science, Qinghai University of Science and Technology, Xining 810016, China;
- The Department of Computer Technology and Application, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Dai Cheng
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, The Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; (D.C.); (Z.Y.); (Y.L.); (Q.Z.); (M.S.)
| | - Zhanli Yang
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, The Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; (D.C.); (Z.Y.); (Y.L.); (Q.Z.); (M.S.)
| | - Yaowei Liu
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, The Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; (D.C.); (Z.Y.); (Y.L.); (Q.Z.); (M.S.)
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Qili Zhao
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, The Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; (D.C.); (Z.Y.); (Y.L.); (Q.Z.); (M.S.)
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Mingzhu Sun
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, The Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; (D.C.); (Z.Y.); (Y.L.); (Q.Z.); (M.S.)
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Haifeng Li
- The School of Computer and Information Science, Qinghai University of Science and Technology, Xining 810016, China;
- The Department of Computer Technology and Application, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System, The Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China; (D.C.); (Z.Y.); (Y.L.); (Q.Z.); (M.S.)
- Institute of Intelligence Technology and Robotic Systems, Shenzhen Research Institute of Nankai University, Shenzhen 518083, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hadzipasic M, Zhang S, Huang Z, Passaro R, Sten MS, Shankar GM, Nia HT. Emergence of nanoscale viscoelasticity from single cancer cells to established tumors. Biomaterials 2024; 305:122431. [PMID: 38169188 PMCID: PMC10837793 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Tumors are complex materials whose physical properties dictate growth and treatment outcomes. Recent evidence suggests time-dependent physical properties, such as viscoelasticity, are crucial, distinct mechanical regulators of cancer progression and malignancy, yet the genesis and consequences of tumor viscoelasticity are poorly understood. Here, using Wide-bandwidth AFM-based ViscoElastic Spectroscopy (WAVES) coupled with mathematical modeling, we probe the origins of tumor viscoelasticity. From single carcinoma cells to increasingly sized carcinoma spheroids to established tumors, we describe a stepwise evolution of dynamic mechanical properties that create a nanorheological signature of established tumors: increased stiffness, decreased rate-dependent stiffening, and reduced energy dissipation. We dissect this evolution of viscoelasticity by scale, and show established tumors use fluid-solid interactions as the dominant mechanism of mechanical energy dissipation as opposed to fluid-independent intrinsic viscoelasticity. Additionally, we demonstrate the energy dissipation mechanism in spheroids and established tumors is negatively correlated with the cellular density, and this relationship strongly depends on an intact actin cytoskeleton. These findings define an emergent and targetable signature of the physical tumor microenvironment, with potential for deeper understanding of tumor pathophysiology and treatment strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhamed Hadzipasic
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sue Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhuoying Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rachel Passaro
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University Boston, MA, USA
| | - Margaret S Sten
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ganesh M Shankar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hadi T Nia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Herzog S, Fläschner G, Incaviglia I, Arias JC, Ponti A, Strohmeyer N, Nava MM, Müller DJ. Monitoring the mass, eigenfrequency, and quality factor of mammalian cells. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1751. [PMID: 38409119 PMCID: PMC10897412 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46056-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The regulation of mass is essential for the development and homeostasis of cells and multicellular organisms. However, cell mass is also tightly linked to cell mechanical properties, which depend on the time scales at which they are measured and change drastically at the cellular eigenfrequency. So far, it has not been possible to determine cell mass and eigenfrequency together. Here, we introduce microcantilevers oscillating in the Ångström range to monitor both fundamental physical properties of the cell. If the oscillation frequency is far below the cellular eigenfrequency, all cell compartments follow the cantilever motion, and the cell mass measurements are accurate. Yet, if the oscillating frequency approaches or lies above the cellular eigenfrequency, the mechanical response of the cell changes, and not all cellular components can follow the cantilever motions in phase. This energy loss caused by mechanical damping within the cell is described by the quality factor. We use these observations to examine living cells across externally applied mechanical frequency ranges and to measure their total mass, eigenfrequency, and quality factor. The three parameters open the door to better understand the mechanobiology of the cell and stimulate biotechnological and medical innovations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Herzog
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Klingelbergstrasse 48, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gotthold Fläschner
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Klingelbergstrasse 48, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
- Nanosurf AG, Gräubernstrasse 12, 4410, Liestal, Switzerland.
| | - Ilaria Incaviglia
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Klingelbergstrasse 48, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Javier Casares Arias
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Klingelbergstrasse 48, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Aaron Ponti
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Klingelbergstrasse 48, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nico Strohmeyer
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Klingelbergstrasse 48, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michele M Nava
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Klingelbergstrasse 48, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel J Müller
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Klingelbergstrasse 48, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Atia L, Fredberg JJ. A life off the beaten track in biomechanics: Imperfect elasticity, cytoskeletal glassiness, and epithelial unjamming. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 4:041304. [PMID: 38156333 PMCID: PMC10751956 DOI: 10.1063/5.0179719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Textbook descriptions of elasticity, viscosity, and viscoelasticity fail to account for certain mechanical behaviors that typify soft living matter. Here, we consider three examples. First, strong empirical evidence suggests that within lung parenchymal tissues, the frictional stresses expressed at the microscale are fundamentally not of viscous origin. Second, the cytoskeleton (CSK) of the airway smooth muscle cell, as well as that of all eukaryotic cells, is more solid-like than fluid-like, yet its elastic modulus is softer than the softest of soft rubbers by a factor of 104-105. Moreover, the eukaryotic CSK expresses power law rheology, innate malleability, and fluidization when sheared. For these reasons, taken together, the CSK of the living eukaryotic cell is reminiscent of the class of materials called soft glasses, thus likening it to inert materials such as clays, pastes slurries, emulsions, and foams. Third, the cellular collective comprising a confluent epithelial layer can become solid-like and jammed, fluid-like and unjammed, or something in between. Esoteric though each may seem, these discoveries are consequential insofar as they impact our understanding of bronchospasm and wound healing as well as cancer cell invasion and embryonic development. Moreover, there are reasons to suspect that certain of these phenomena first arose in the early protist as a result of evolutionary pressures exerted by the primordial microenvironment. We have hypothesized, further, that each then became passed down virtually unchanged to the present day as a conserved core process. These topics are addressed here not only because they are interesting but also because they track the journey of one laboratory along a path less traveled by.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lior Atia
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chang Z, Zhang L, Hang JT, Liu W, Xu GK. Viscoelastic Multiscale Mechanical Indexes for Assessing Liver Fibrosis and Treatment Outcomes. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:9618-9625. [PMID: 37793647 PMCID: PMC10603793 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Understanding liver tissue mechanics, particularly in the context of liver pathologies like fibrosis, cirrhosis, and carcinoma, holds pivotal significance for assessing disease severity and prognosis. Although the static mechanical properties of livers have been gradually studied, the intricacies of their dynamic mechanics remain enigmatic. Here, we characterize the dynamic creep responses of healthy, fibrotic, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-treated fibrotic lives. Strikingly, we unearth a ubiquitous two-stage power-law rheology of livers across different time scales with the exponents and their distribution profiles highly correlated to liver status. Moreover, our self-similar hierarchical theory effectively captures the delicate changes in the dynamical mechanics of livers. Notably, the viscoelastic multiscale mechanical indexes (i.e., power-law exponents and elastic stiffnesses of different hierarchies) and their distribution characteristics prominently vary with liver fibrosis and MSCs therapy. This study unveils the viscoelastic characteristics of livers and underscores the potential of proposed mechanical criteria for assessing disease evolution and prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Chang
- Laboratory
for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, Department of Engineering
Mechanics, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical
Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Liqiang Zhang
- Institute
for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China
| | - Jiu-Tao Hang
- Laboratory
for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, Department of Engineering
Mechanics, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical
Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Wenjia Liu
- Institute
for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China
| | - Guang-Kui Xu
- Laboratory
for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, Department of Engineering
Mechanics, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical
Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gu Q, Shanahan L, Hart JW, Belser S, Shofer N, Atatüre M, Knowles HS. Simultaneous Nanorheometry and Nanothermometry Using Intracellular Diamond Quantum Sensors. ACS NANO 2023; 17:20034-20042. [PMID: 37791968 PMCID: PMC10604098 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c05285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
The viscoelasticity of the cytoplasm plays a critical role in cell morphology, cell division, and intracellular transport. Viscoelasticity is also interconnected with other biophysical properties, such as temperature, which is known to influence cellular bioenergetics. Probing the connections between intracellular temperature and cytoplasmic viscoelasticity provides an exciting opportunity for the study of biological phenomena, such as metabolism and disease progression. The small length scales and transient nature of changes in these parameters combined with their complex interdependencies pose a challenge for biosensing tools, which are often limited to a single readout modality. Here, we present a dual-mode quantum sensor capable of performing simultaneous nanoscale thermometry and rheometry in dynamic cellular environments. We use nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond nanocrystals as biocompatible sensors for in vitro measurements. We combine subdiffraction resolution single-particle tracking in a fluidic environment with optically detected magnetic resonance spectroscopy to perform simultaneous sensing of viscoelasticity and temperature. We use our sensor to demonstrate probing of the temperature-dependent viscoelasticity in complex media at the nanoscale. We then investigate the interplay between intracellular forces and the cytoplasmic rheology in live cells. Finally, we identify different rheological regimes and reveal evidence of active trafficking and details of the nanoscale viscoelasticity of the cytoplasm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sophia Belser
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thompson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United
Kingdom
| | - Noah Shofer
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thompson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United
Kingdom
| | - Mete Atatüre
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thompson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United
Kingdom
| | - Helena S. Knowles
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thompson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United
Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Jünger F, Rohrbach A. Making Hidden Cell Particle Interactions Visible by Thermal Noise Frequency Decomposition. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2207032. [PMID: 37337392 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202207032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Thermal noise drives cellular structures, bacteria, and viruses on different temporal and spatial scales. Their weak interactions with their environment can change on subsecond scales. However, particle interactions can be hidden or invisible-even when measured with thermal noise sensitivity, leading to misconceptions about their binding behavior. Here, it is demonstrated how invisible particle interactions at the cell periphery become visible by MHz interferometric thermal noise tracking and frequency decomposition at a spectral update rate of only 0.5 s. The particle fluctuations are analyzed in radial and lateral directions by a viscoelastic modulus G(ω,tex ) over the experiment time tex , revealing a surprisingly similar, frequency dependent response for different cell types. This response behavior can be explained by a mathematical model for molecular scale elasticity and damping. The method to reveal hidden interactions is tested at two examples: the stiffening of macrophage filopodia tips within 2 s with particle contact invisible by the fluctuation width. Second, the extent and stiffness of the soft cell glycocalyx is measured, which can be sensed by a particle only on microsecond-timescales, but which remains invisible on time-average. This concept study shows how to uncover hidden cellular interactions, if particle motions are measured at high-speed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felix Jünger
- Laboratory for Bio- and Nano-Photonics, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 102, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Rohrbach
- Laboratory for Bio- and Nano-Photonics, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 102, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signaling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Leartprapun N, Zeng Z, Hajjarian Z, Bossuyt V, Nadkarni SK. Speckle rheological spectroscopy reveals wideband viscoelastic spectra of biological tissues. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.08.544037. [PMID: 37333220 PMCID: PMC10274797 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.08.544037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical transformation of tissue is not merely a symptom but a decisive driver in pathological processes. Comprising intricate network of cells, fibrillar proteins, and interstitial fluid, tissues exhibit distinct solid-(elastic) and liquid-like (viscous) behaviours that span a wide band of frequencies. Yet, characterization of wideband viscoelastic behaviour in whole tissue has not been investigated, leaving a vast knowledge gap in the higher frequency range that is linked to fundamental intracellular processes and microstructural dynamics. Here, we present wideband Speckle rHEologicAl spectRoScopy (SHEARS) to address this need. We demonstrate, for the first time, analysis of frequency-dependent elastic and viscous moduli up to the sub-MHz regime in biomimetic scaffolds and tissue specimens of blood clots, breast tumours, and bone. By capturing previously inaccessible viscoelastic behaviour across the wide frequency spectrum, our approach provides distinct and comprehensive mechanical signatures of tissues that may provide new mechanobiological insights and inform novel disease prognostication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nichaluk Leartprapun
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA
| | - Ziqian Zeng
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA
| | - Zeinab Hajjarian
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA
| | - Veerle Bossuyt
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114 USA
| | - Seemantini K. Nadkarni
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Júnior C, Ulldemolins A, Narciso M, Almendros I, Farré R, Navajas D, López J, Eroles M, Rico F, Gavara N. Multi-Step Extracellular Matrix Remodelling and Stiffening in the Development of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021708. [PMID: 36675222 PMCID: PMC9865994 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) of the lung is a filamentous network composed mainly of collagens, elastin, and proteoglycans that provides structural and physical support to its populating cells. Proliferation, migration and overall behaviour of those cells is greatly determined by micromechanical queues provided by the ECM. Lung fibrosis displays an aberrant increased deposition of ECM which likely changes filament organization and stiffens the ECM, thus upregulating the profibrotic profile of pulmonary cells. We have previously used AFM to assess changes in the Young's Modulus (E) of the ECM in the lung. Here, we perform further ECM topographical, mechanical and viscoelastic analysis at the micro- and nano-scale throughout fibrosis development. Furthermore, we provide nanoscale correlations between topographical and elastic properties of the ECM fibres. Firstly, we identify a softening of the ECM after rats are instilled with media associated with recovery of mechanical homeostasis, which is hindered in bleomycin-instilled lungs. Moreover, we find opposite correlations between fibre stiffness and roughness in PBS- vs bleomycin-treated lung. Our findings suggest that changes in ECM nanoscale organization take place at different stages of fibrosis, with the potential to help identify pharmacological targets to hinder its progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Constança Júnior
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Ulldemolins
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Narciso
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isaac Almendros
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramon Farré
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Navajas
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier López
- Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017-CIIL-Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille, Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Mar Eroles
- Aix-Marseille, CNRS, INSERM, LAI, Centuri Centre for Living Systems, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Felix Rico
- Aix-Marseille, CNRS, INSERM, LAI, Centuri Centre for Living Systems, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Núria Gavara
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Matsumoto M, Tsuru H, Suginobe H, Narita J, Ishii R, Hirose M, Hashimoto K, Wang R, Yoshihara C, Ueyama A, Tanaka R, Ozono K, Okajima T, Ishida H. Atomic force microscopy identifies the alteration of rheological properties of the cardiac fibroblasts in idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275296. [PMID: 36174041 PMCID: PMC9522286 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a rare disease characterized by increased ventricular stiffness and preserved ventricular contraction. Various sarcomere gene variants are known to cause RCM; however, more than a half of patients do not harbor such pathogenic variants. We recently demonstrated that cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) play important roles in inhibiting the diastolic function of cardiomyocytes via humoral factors and direct cell–cell contact regardless of sarcomere gene mutations. However, the mechanical properties of CFs that are crucial for intercellular communication and the cardiomyocyte microenvironment remain less understood. In this study, we evaluated the rheological properties of CFs derived from pediatric patients with RCM and healthy control CFs via atomic force microscopy. Then, we estimated the cellular modulus scale factor related to the cell stiffness, fluidity, and Newtonian viscosity of single cells based on the single power-law rheology model and analyzed the comprehensive gene expression profiles via RNA-sequencing. RCM-derived CFs showed significantly higher stiffness and viscosity and lower fluidity compared to healthy control CFs. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing revealed that the signaling pathways associated with cytoskeleton elements were affected in RCM CFs; specifically, cytoskeletal actin-associated genes (ACTN1, ACTA2, and PALLD) were highly expressed in RCM CFs, whereas several tubulin genes (TUBB3, TUBB, TUBA1C, and TUBA1B) were down-regulated. These results implies that the signaling pathways associated with cytoskeletal elements alter the rheological properties of RCM CFs, particularly those related to CF–cardiomyocyte interactions, thereby leading to diastolic cardiac dysfunction in RCM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mizuki Matsumoto
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Tsuru
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hidehiro Suginobe
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jun Narita
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryo Ishii
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaki Hirose
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuhisa Hashimoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Renjie Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chika Yoshihara
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Atsuko Ueyama
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Tanaka
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Keiichi Ozono
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takaharu Okajima
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- * E-mail: (HI); (TO)
| | - Hidekazu Ishida
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
- * E-mail: (HI); (TO)
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Tang Z, Eichmann SL, Lounis B, Cognet L, MacKintosh FC, Pasquali M. Single-walled carbon nanotube reptation dynamics in submicron sized pores from randomly packed mono-sized colloids. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:5509-5517. [PMID: 35848600 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00305h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Studying the Brownian motion of fibers and semi-flexible filaments in porous media is the key to understanding the transport and mechanical properties in a variety of systems. The motion of semi-flexible filaments in gel-like porous media including polymer networks and cell cytoskeleton has been studied theoretically and experimentally, whereas the motion of these materials in packed-colloid porous media, advanced foams, and rock-like systems has not been thoroughly studied. Here we use video microscopy to directly visualize the reptation and transport of intrinsically fluorescent, semiflexible, semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in the sub-micron pores of packed colloids as fixed obstacles of packed-colloid porous media. By visualizing the filament motion and Brownian diffusion at different locations in the pore structures, we study how the properties of the environment, like the pore shape and pore structure of the porous media, affect SWCNT mobility. These results show that the porous media structure controls SWCNT reorientation during Brownian diffusion. In packed-colloid pores, SWCNTs diffuse along straight pores and bend across pores; conversely, in gel pores, SWCNTs consistently diffuse into curved pores, displaying a faster parallel motion. In both gel and packed-colloid porous media, SWCNT finite stiffness enhances SWCNT rotational diffusion and prevents jamming, allowing for inter-pore diffusion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Tang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
| | - Shannon L Eichmann
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
| | - Brahim Lounis
- Laboratoire Photonique Numérique et Nanosciences, Université de Bordeaux, LP2N, F-33405 Talence, France
- Institut d'Optique and CNRS, LP2N, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - Laurent Cognet
- Laboratoire Photonique Numérique et Nanosciences, Université de Bordeaux, LP2N, F-33405 Talence, France
- Institut d'Optique and CNRS, LP2N, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - Frederick C MacKintosh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
| | - Matteo Pasquali
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, The Carbon Hub, The Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Bashir KMI, Lee S, Jung DH, Basu SK, Cho MG, Wierschem A. Narrow-Gap Rheometry: A Novel Method for Measuring Cell Mechanics. Cells 2022; 11:2010. [PMID: 35805094 PMCID: PMC9265971 DOI: 10.3390/cells11132010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The viscoelastic properties of a cell cytoskeleton contain abundant information about the state of a cell. Cells show a response to a specific environment or an administered drug through changes in their viscoelastic properties. Studies of single cells have shown that chemical agents that interact with the cytoskeleton can alter mechanical cell properties and suppress mitosis. This envisions using rheological measurements as a non-specific tool for drug development, the pharmacological screening of new drug agents, and to optimize dosage. Although there exists a number of sophisticated methods for studying mechanical properties of single cells, studying concentration dependencies is difficult and cumbersome with these methods: large cell-to-cell variations demand high repetition rates to obtain statistically significant data. Furthermore, method-induced changes in the cell mechanics cannot be excluded when working in a nonlinear viscoelastic range. To address these issues, we not only compared narrow-gap rheometry with commonly used single cell techniques, such as atomic force microscopy and microfluidic-based approaches, but we also compared existing cell monolayer studies used to estimate cell mechanical properties. This review provides insight for whether and how narrow-gap rheometer could be used as an efficient drug screening tool, which could further improve our current understanding of the mechanical issues present in the treatment of human diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khawaja Muhammad Imran Bashir
- German Engineering Research and Development Center, LSTME-Busan Branch, Busan 46742, Korea; (K.M.I.B.); (S.L.); (D.H.J.); (M.-G.C.)
| | - Suhyang Lee
- German Engineering Research and Development Center, LSTME-Busan Branch, Busan 46742, Korea; (K.M.I.B.); (S.L.); (D.H.J.); (M.-G.C.)
- Institute of Fluid Mechanics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - Dong Hee Jung
- German Engineering Research and Development Center, LSTME-Busan Branch, Busan 46742, Korea; (K.M.I.B.); (S.L.); (D.H.J.); (M.-G.C.)
- Division of Energy and Bioengineering, Dongseo University, Busan 47011, Korea
| | - Santanu Kumar Basu
- Institute of Fluid Mechanics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - Man-Gi Cho
- German Engineering Research and Development Center, LSTME-Busan Branch, Busan 46742, Korea; (K.M.I.B.); (S.L.); (D.H.J.); (M.-G.C.)
- Division of Energy and Bioengineering, Dongseo University, Busan 47011, Korea
| | - Andreas Wierschem
- German Engineering Research and Development Center, LSTME-Busan Branch, Busan 46742, Korea; (K.M.I.B.); (S.L.); (D.H.J.); (M.-G.C.)
- Institute of Fluid Mechanics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91058 Erlangen, Germany;
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Hang JT, Xu GK, Gao H. Frequency-dependent transition in power-law rheological behavior of living cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn6093. [PMID: 35522746 PMCID: PMC9075802 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn6093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Living cells are active viscoelastic materials exhibiting diverse mechanical behaviors at different time scales. However, dynamical rheological characteristics of cells in frequency range spanning many orders of magnitude, especially in high frequencies, remain poorly understood. Here, we show that a self-similar hierarchical model can capture cell's power-law rheological characteristics in different frequency scales. In low-frequency scales, the storage and loss moduli exhibit a weak power-law dependence on frequency with same exponent. In high-frequency scales, the storage modulus becomes a constant, while the loss modulus shows a power-law dependence on frequency with an exponent of 1.0. The transition between low- and high-frequency scales is defined by a transition frequency based on cell's mechanical parameters. The cytoskeletal differences of different cell types or states can be characterized by changes in mechanical parameters in the model. This study provides valuable insights into potentially using mechanics-based markers for cell classification and cancer diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiu-Tao Hang
- Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, Department of Engineering Mechanics, SVL, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Guang-Kui Xu
- Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, Department of Engineering Mechanics, SVL, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
- Corresponding author. (G.-K.X.); (H.G.)
| | - Huajian Gao
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
- Institute of High Performance Computing, A*STAR, Singapore 138632, Singapore
- Corresponding author. (G.-K.X.); (H.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Wen K, Ni K, Guo J, Bu B, Liu L, Pan Y, Li J, Luo M, Deng L. MircroRNA Let-7a-5p in Airway Smooth Muscle Cells is Most Responsive to High Stretch in Association With Cell Mechanics Modulation. Front Physiol 2022; 13:830406. [PMID: 35399286 PMCID: PMC8990250 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.830406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: High stretch (strain >10%) can alter the biomechanical behaviors of airway smooth muscle cells which may play important roles in diverse lung diseases such as asthma and ventilator-induced lung injury. However, the underlying modulation mechanisms for high stretch-induced mechanobiological responses in ASMCs are not fully understood. Here, we hypothesize that ASMCs respond to high stretch with increased expression of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) that may in turn modulate the biomechanical behaviors of the cells. Thus, this study aimed to identify the miRNA in cultured ASMCs that is most responsive to high stretch, and subsequently investigate in these cells whether the miRNA expression level is associated with the modulation of cell biomechanics. Methods: MiRNAs related to inflammatory airway diseases were obtained via bioinformatics data mining, and then tested with cultured ASMCs for their expression variations in response to a cyclic high stretch (13% strain) simulating in vivo ventilator-imposed strain on airways. Subsequently, we transfected cultured ASMCs with mimics and inhibitors of the miRNA that is most responsive to the high stretch, followed by evaluation of the cells in terms of morphology, stiffness, traction force, and mRNA expression of cytoskeleton/focal adhesion-related molecules. Results: 29 miRNAs were identified to be related to inflammatory airway diseases, among which let-7a-5p was the most responsive to high stretch. Transfection of cultured human ASMCs with let-7a-5p mimics or inhibitors led to an increase or decrease in aspect ratio, stiffness, traction force, migration, stress fiber distribution, mRNA expression of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), myosin light chain kinase, some subfamily members of integrin and talin. Direct binding between let-7a-5p and ItgαV was also verified in classical model cell line by using dual-luciferase assays. Conclusion: We demonstrated that high stretch indeed enhanced the expression of let-7a-5p in ASMCs, which in turn led to changes in the cells’ morphology and biomechanical behaviors together with modulation of molecules associated with cytoskeletal structure and focal adhesion. These findings suggest that let-7a-5p regulation is an alternative mechanism for high stretch-induced effect on mechanobiology of ASMCs, which may contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of high stretch-related lung diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mingzhi Luo
- *Correspondence: Mingzhi Luo, ; Linhong Deng,
| | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Horkay F, Douglas JF. Cartilage polymers: From viscoelastic solutions to weak gels*. POLYM ENG SCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pen.25791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ferenc Horkay
- Section on Quantitative Imaging and Tissue Sciences, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institutes of Health Bethesda Maryland USA
| | - Jack F. Douglas
- Materials Science and Engineering Division National Institute of Standard and Technology Gaithersburg Maryland USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Mierke CT. Viscoelasticity Acts as a Marker for Tumor Extracellular Matrix Characteristics. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:785138. [PMID: 34950661 PMCID: PMC8691700 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.785138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological materials such as extracellular matrix scaffolds, cancer cells, and tissues are often assumed to respond elastically for simplicity; the viscoelastic response is quite commonly ignored. Extracellular matrix mechanics including the viscoelasticity has turned out to be a key feature of cellular behavior and the entire shape and function of healthy and diseased tissues, such as cancer. The interference of cells with their local microenvironment and the interaction among different cell types relies both on the mechanical phenotype of each involved element. However, there is still not yet clearly understood how viscoelasticity alters the functional phenotype of the tumor extracellular matrix environment. Especially the biophysical technologies are still under ongoing improvement and further development. In addition, the effect of matrix mechanics in the progression of cancer is the subject of discussion. Hence, the topic of this review is especially attractive to collect the existing endeavors to characterize the viscoelastic features of tumor extracellular matrices and to briefly highlight the present frontiers in cancer progression and escape of cancers from therapy. Finally, this review article illustrates the importance of the tumor extracellular matrix mechano-phenotype, including the phenomenon viscoelasticity in identifying, characterizing, and treating specific cancer types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tanja Mierke
- Faculty of Physics and Earth Science, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Biological Physics Division, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Júnior C, Narciso M, Marhuenda E, Almendros I, Farré R, Navajas D, Otero J, Gavara N. Baseline Stiffness Modulates the Non-Linear Response to Stretch of the Extracellular Matrix in Pulmonary Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12928. [PMID: 34884731 PMCID: PMC8657558 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive disease that disrupts the mechanical homeostasis of the lung extracellular matrix (ECM). These effects are particularly relevant in the lung context, given the dynamic nature of cyclic stretch that the ECM is continuously subjected to during breathing. This work uses an in vivo model of pulmonary fibrosis to characterize the macro- and micromechanical properties of lung ECM subjected to stretch. To that aim, we have compared the micromechanical properties of fibrotic ECM in baseline and under stretch conditions, using a novel combination of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and a stretchable membrane-based chip. At the macroscale, fibrotic ECM displayed strain-hardening, with a stiffness one order of magnitude higher than its healthy counterpart. Conversely, at the microscale, we found a switch in the stretch-induced mechanical behaviour of the lung ECM from strain-hardening at physiological ECM stiffnesses to strain-softening at fibrotic ECM stiffnesses. Similarly, we observed solidification of healthy ECM versus fluidization of fibrotic ECM in response to stretch. Our results suggest that the mechanical behaviour of fibrotic ECM under stretch involves a potential built-in mechanotransduction mechanism that may slow down the progression of PF by steering resident fibroblasts away from a pro-fibrotic profile.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Constança Júnior
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (C.J.); (M.N.); (E.M.); (I.A.); (R.F.); (D.N.); (J.O.)
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Narciso
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (C.J.); (M.N.); (E.M.); (I.A.); (R.F.); (D.N.); (J.O.)
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esther Marhuenda
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (C.J.); (M.N.); (E.M.); (I.A.); (R.F.); (D.N.); (J.O.)
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isaac Almendros
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (C.J.); (M.N.); (E.M.); (I.A.); (R.F.); (D.N.); (J.O.)
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramon Farré
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (C.J.); (M.N.); (E.M.); (I.A.); (R.F.); (D.N.); (J.O.)
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Navajas
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (C.J.); (M.N.); (E.M.); (I.A.); (R.F.); (D.N.); (J.O.)
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Otero
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (C.J.); (M.N.); (E.M.); (I.A.); (R.F.); (D.N.); (J.O.)
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Núria Gavara
- Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (C.J.); (M.N.); (E.M.); (I.A.); (R.F.); (D.N.); (J.O.)
- The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Wei X, Fang C, Gong B, Yao J, Qian J, Lin Y. Viscoelasticity of 3D actin networks dictated by the mechanochemical characteristics of cross-linkers. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:10177-10185. [PMID: 33646227 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01558j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we report a computational investigation on how the mechanochemical characteristics of crosslinking molecules influence the viscoelasticity of three dimensional F-actin networks, an issue of key interest in analyzing the behavior of living cells and biological gels. In particular, it was found that the continuous breakage and rebinding of cross-linkers result in a locally peaked loss modulus in the rheology spectrum of the network, reflecting the fact that maximum energy dissipation is achieved when the driving frequency of the applied oscillating shear becomes comparable to the dissociation/association rate of crosslinking molecules. In addition, we showed that when subjected to constant rate of shear, an actin network can exhibit either strain hardening or softening depending on the ratio between the loading rate and unbinding speed of cross-linkers. A criterion for predicting the transition from softening to hardening was also obtained, in agreement with recent experiments. Finally, significant structural evolution was found to occur in random networks undergoing mechanical "training" (i.e. under a constant applied shear stress over a period of time), eventually leading to a pronounced anisotropic response of the network afterward which again is consistent with experimental observations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- X Wei
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- HKU-Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU-SIRI), Guangdong, China
| | - C Fang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- HKU-Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU-SIRI), Guangdong, China
| | - B Gong
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Key Laboratory of Soft Machines and Smart Devices of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - J Yao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- HKU-Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU-SIRI), Guangdong, China
| | - J Qian
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Key Laboratory of Soft Machines and Smart Devices of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Y Lin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- HKU-Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation (HKU-SIRI), Guangdong, China
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Li Y, Tang W, Guo M. The Cell as Matter: Connecting Molecular Biology to Cellular Functions. MATTER 2021; 4:1863-1891. [PMID: 35495565 PMCID: PMC9053450 DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2021.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Viewing cell as matter to understand the intracellular biomolecular processes and multicellular tissue behavior represents an emerging research area at the interface of physics and biology. Cellular material displays various physical and mechanical properties, which can strongly affect both intracellular and multicellular biological events. This review provides a summary of how cells, as matter, connect molecular biology to cellular and multicellular scale functions. As an impact in molecular biology, we review recent progresses in utilizing cellular material properties to direct cell fate decisions in the communities of immune cells, neurons, stem cells, and cancer cells. Finally, we provide an outlook on how to integrate cellular material properties in developing biophysical methods for engineered living systems, regenerative medicine, and disease treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Wenhui Tang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ming Guo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Fläschner G, Roman CI, Strohmeyer N, Martinez-Martin D, Müller DJ. Rheology of rounded mammalian cells over continuous high-frequencies. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2922. [PMID: 34006873 PMCID: PMC8131594 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23158-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the viscoelastic properties of living cells and their relation to cell state and morphology remains challenging. Low-frequency mechanical perturbations have contributed considerably to the understanding, yet higher frequencies promise to elucidate the link between cellular and molecular properties, such as polymer relaxation and monomer reaction kinetics. Here, we introduce an assay, that uses an actuated microcantilever to confine a single, rounded cell on a second microcantilever, which measures the cell mechanical response across a continuous frequency range ≈ 1-40 kHz. Cell mass measurements and optical microscopy are co-implemented. The fast, high-frequency measurements are applied to rheologically monitor cellular stiffening. We find that the rheology of rounded HeLa cells obeys a cytoskeleton-dependent power-law, similar to spread cells. Cell size and viscoelasticity are uncorrelated, which contrasts an assumption based on the Laplace law. Together with the presented theory of mechanical de-embedding, our assay is generally applicable to other rheological experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gotthold Fläschner
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cosmin I Roman
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Nico Strohmeyer
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Basel, Switzerland
| | - David Martinez-Martin
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Basel, Switzerland.,The University of Sydney, School of Biomedical Engineering, NSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Daniel J Müller
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Basel, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Al-Ruweidi MKAA, Ali FH, Shurbaji S, Popelka A, Yalcin HC. Dexamethasone and transdehydroandrosterone significantly reduce pulmonary epithelial cell injuries associated with mechanical ventilation. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2021; 130:1143-1151. [PMID: 33600286 PMCID: PMC8384562 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00574.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many patients who suffer from pulmonary diseases cannot inflate their lungs normally, as they need mechanical ventilation (MV) to assist them. The stress associated with MV can damage the delicate epithelium in small airways and alveoli, which can cause complications resulting in ventilation-induced lung injuries (VILIs) in many cases, especially in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Therefore, efforts were directed to develop safe modes for MV. In our work, we propose a different approach to decrease injuries of epithelial cells (EpCs) upon MV. We alter EpCs' cytoskeletal structure to increase their survival rate during airway reopening conditions associated with MV. We tested two anti-inflammatory drugs dexamethasone (DEX) and transdehydroandrosterone (DHEA) to alter the cytoskeleton. Cultured rat L2 alveolar EpCs were exposed to airway reopening conditions using a parallel-plate perfusion chamber. Cells were exposed to a single bubble propagation to simulate stresses associated with mechanical ventilation in both control and study groups. Cellular injury and cytoskeleton reorganization were assessed via fluorescence microscopy, whereas cell topography was studied via atomic force microscopy (AFM). Our results indicate that culturing cells in media, DEX solution, or DHEA solution did not lead to cell death (static cultures). Bubble flows caused significant cell injury. Preexposure to DEX or DHEA decreased cell death significantly. The AFM verified alteration of cell mechanics due to actin fiber depolymerization. These results suggest potential beneficial effects of DEX and DHEA for ARDS treatment for patients with COVID-19. They are also critical for VILIs and applicable to future clinical studies.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Preexposure of cultured cells to either dexamethasone or transdehydroandrosterone significantly decreases cellular injuries associated with mechanical ventilation due to their ability to alter the cell mechanics. This is an alternative protective method against VILIs instead of common methods that rely on modification of mechanical ventilator modes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Khatib A A Al-Ruweidi
- Biomedical Research Centre, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Samar Shurbaji
- Biomedical Research Centre, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Anton Popelka
- Center of Advanced Materials, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Moazzeni S, Demiryurek Y, Yu M, Shreiber DI, Zahn JD, Shan JW, Foty RA, Liu L, Lin H. Single-cell mechanical analysis and tension quantification via electrodeformation relaxation. Phys Rev E 2021; 103:032409. [PMID: 33862816 PMCID: PMC10625872 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.103.032409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The mechanical behavior and cortical tension of single cells are analyzed using electrodeformation relaxation. Four types of cells, namely, MCF-10A, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and GBM, are studied, with pulse durations ranging from 0.01 to 10 s. Mechanical response in the long-pulse regime is characterized by a power-law behavior, consistent with soft glassy rheology resulting from unbinding events within the cortex network. In the subsecond short-pulse regime, a single timescale well describes the process and indicates the naive tensioned (prestressed) state of the cortex with minimal force-induced alteration. A mathematical model is employed and the simple ellipsoidal geometry allows for use of an analytical solution to extract the cortical tension. At the shortest pulse of 0.01 s, tensions for all four cell types are on the order of 10^{-2} N/m.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seyedsajad Moazzeni
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Yasir Demiryurek
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Miao Yu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - David I. Shreiber
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Jeffrey D. Zahn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Jerry W. Shan
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Ramsey A. Foty
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 125 Patterson Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
| | - Liping Liu
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
- Department of Mathematics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 110 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08901, USA
| | - Hao Lin
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Krajina BA, LeSavage BL, Roth JG, Zhu AW, Cai PC, Spakowitz AJ, Heilshorn SC. Microrheology reveals simultaneous cell-mediated matrix stiffening and fluidization that underlie breast cancer invasion. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/8/eabe1969. [PMID: 33597244 PMCID: PMC7888921 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe1969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Living tissues embody a unique class of hybrid materials in which active and thermal forces are inextricably linked. Mechanical characterization of tissues demands descriptors that respect this hybrid nature. In this work, we develop a microrheology-based force spectrum analysis (FSA) technique to dissect the active and passive fluctuations of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models. In two different stromal models and a 3D breast cancer spheroid model, our FSA reveals emergent hybrid dynamics that involve both high-frequency stress stiffening and low-frequency fluidization of the ECM. We show that this is a general consequence of nonlinear coupling between active forces and the frequency-dependent viscoelasticity of stress-stiffening networks. In 3D breast cancer spheroids, this dual active stiffening and fluidization is tightly connected with invasion. Our results suggest a mechanism whereby breast cancer cells reconcile the seemingly contradictory requirements for both tension and malleability in the ECM during invasion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brad A Krajina
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Bauer L LeSavage
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Julien G Roth
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Audrey W Zhu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Pamela C Cai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Andrew J Spakowitz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Single cell electrophysiological alterations under dynamic loading at ultrasonic frequencies. BRAIN MULTIPHYSICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brain.2021.100031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
|
29
|
Dannhauser D, Maremonti MI, Panzetta V, Rossi D, Netti PA, Causa F. Mechanical phenotyping of breast cell lines by in-flow deformation-dependent dynamics under tuneable compressive forces. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:4611-4622. [PMID: 33146642 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00911c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cell mechanical properties are powerful biomarkers for label-free phenotyping. To date, microfluidic approaches assay mechanical properties by measuring changes in cellular shape, applying extensional or shear flows or forcing cells to pass through constrictions. In general, such approaches use high-speed imaging or transit time measurements to evaluate cell deformation, while cell dynamics in-flow after stress imposition have not yet been considered. Here, we present a microfluidic approach to apply, over a wide range, tuneable compressive forces on suspended cells, which result in well distinct signatures of deformation-dependent dynamic motions. By properly conceiving microfluidic chip geometry and rheological fluid properties, we modulate applied single-cell forces, which result in different motion regimes (rolling, tumbling or tank-treating) depending on the investigated cell line. We decided to prove our approach by testing breast cell lines, with well-known mechanical properties. We measured a set of in-flow parameters (orientation angle, aspect ratio, cell deformation and cell diameter) as a backward analysis of cell mechanical response. By such an approach, we report that the highly invasive tumour cells (MDA-MB-231) are much more deformable (6-times higher) than healthy (MCF-10A) and low invasive ones (MCF-7). Thus, we demonstrate that a microfluidic design with tuneable rheological fluid properties and direct analysis of bright-field images can be suitable for the label-free mechanical phenotyping of various cell lines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Dannhauser
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB), Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
| | - Maria Isabella Maremonti
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB), Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
| | - Valeria Panzetta
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB), Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
| | - Domenico Rossi
- Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci 53, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Antonio Netti
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB), Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy. and Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci 53, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Filippo Causa
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB), Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Duan Y, Li X, Zuo X, Shen T, Yu S, Deng L, Gao C. Migration of endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells into hyaluronic acid hydrogels with different moduli under induction of pro-inflammatory macrophages. J Mater Chem B 2020; 7:5478-5489. [PMID: 31415053 DOI: 10.1039/c9tb01126a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The design of hyaluronic acid (HA)-based and stimuli-responsive hydrogels to elicit highly controlled and tunable cell response and behaviors is a major field of interest in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The pH-responsive hydrogel can respond to pH variation during wound healing, which may in turn regulate the tissue regeneration process. In this study, a double-network hydrogel cross-linked with vinyl double bonds and Schiff base was prepared, whose properties were further adjusted by incubation in pH 7.4 and pH 5 buffers. The endothelial cells (ECs) migrated much deeper into the softer HA hydrogel pre-treated with pH 5 buffer than the stiffer hydrogel. By contrast, the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) migrated easily into the stiffer hydrogel. The ECs highly expressed RhoA and non-muscle myosin (NM) II genes in the softer hydrogel, which may facilitate amoeboid migration. Meanwhile, the MSCs were stiffer than the ECs, and highly expressed Rac1, RhoA, vinculin, NM II, hyaluronidase (HYAL) 2 and CD44 genes in the stiffer hydrogel, which facilitate mesenchymal migration. These results provide important clues for revealing the different migration strategies of the ECs and MSCs in HA hydrogels with different stiffness, and suggest that the mechanical properties and the network structure of hydrogels play an important role in regulating the three-dimensional migration process of these cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiyuan Duan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Lin S, Chen P, Guan L, Shao Y, Hao Y, Li Q, Li B, Weitz DA, Feng X. Universal Statistical Laws for the Velocities of Collective Migrating Cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 4:e2000065. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202000065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shao‐Zhen Lin
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering Department of Engineering Mechanics Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Peng‐Cheng Chen
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering Department of Engineering Mechanics Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Liu‐Yuan Guan
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering Department of Engineering Mechanics Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Yue Shao
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering Department of Engineering Mechanics Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Yu‐Kun Hao
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering Department of Engineering Mechanics Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Qunyang Li
- AML Department of Engineering Mechanics Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Bo Li
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering Department of Engineering Mechanics Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - David A. Weitz
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University Cambridge MA 02138 USA
| | - Xi‐Qiao Feng
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering Department of Engineering Mechanics Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Stamenović D, Smith ML. Tensional homeostasis at different length scales. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:6946-6963. [PMID: 32696799 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00763c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Tensional homeostasis is a phenomenon of fundamental importance in mechanobiology. It refers to the ability of organs, tissues, and cells to respond to external disturbances by maintaining a homeostatic (set point) level of mechanical stress (tension). It is well documented that breakdown in tensional homeostasis is the hallmark of progression of diseases, including cancer and atherosclerosis. In this review, we surveyed quantitative studies of tensional homeostasis with the goal of providing characterization of this phenomenon across a broad range of length scales, from the organ level to the subcellular level. We considered both static and dynamics approaches that have been used in studies of this phenomenon. Results that we found in the literature and that we obtained from our own investigations suggest that tensional homeostasis is an emergent phenomenon driven by collective rheostatic mechanisms associated with focal adhesions, and by a collective action of cells in multicellular forms, whose impact on tensional homeostasis is cell type-dependent and cell microenvironment-dependent. Additionally, the finding that cadherins, adhesion molecules that are important for formation of cell-cell junctions, promote tensional homeostasis even in single cells, demonstrates their relevance as a signaling moiety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrije Stamenović
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Chaubet L, Chaudhary AR, Heris HK, Ehrlicher AJ, Hendricks AG. Dynamic actin cross-linking governs the cytoplasm's transition to fluid-like behavior. Mol Biol Cell 2020; 31:1744-1752. [PMID: 32579489 PMCID: PMC7521843 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e19-09-0504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells precisely control their mechanical properties to organize and differentiate into tissues. The architecture and connectivity of cytoskeletal filaments change in response to mechanical and biochemical cues, allowing the cell to rapidly tune its mechanics from highly cross-linked, elastic networks to weakly cross-linked viscous networks. While the role of actin cross-linking in controlling actin network mechanics is well-characterized in purified actin networks, its mechanical role in the cytoplasm of living cells remains unknown. Here, we probe the frequency-dependent intracellular viscoelastic properties of living cells using multifrequency excitation and in situ optical trap calibration. At long timescales in the intracellular environment, we observe that the cytoskeleton becomes fluid-like. The mechanics are well-captured by a model in which actin filaments are dynamically connected by a single dominant cross-linker. A disease-causing point mutation (K255E) of the actin cross-linker α-actinin 4 (ACTN4) causes its binding kinetics to be insensitive to tension. Under normal conditions, the viscoelastic properties of wild-type (WT) and K255E+/- cells are similar. However, when tension is reduced through myosin II inhibition, WT cells relax 3× faster to the fluid-like regime while K255E+/- cells are not affected. These results indicate that dynamic actin cross-linking enables the cytoplasm to flow at long timescales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Loïc Chaubet
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada
| | | | - Hossein K. Heris
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada
| | - Allen J. Ehrlicher
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada
| | - Adam G. Hendricks
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Bonfanti A, Kaplan JL, Charras G, Kabla A. Fractional viscoelastic models for power-law materials. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:6002-6020. [PMID: 32638812 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00354a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Soft materials often exhibit a distinctive power-law viscoelastic response arising from broad distribution of time-scales present in their complex internal structure. A promising tool to accurately describe the rheological behaviour of soft materials is fractional calculus. However, its use in the scientific community remains limited due to the unusual notation and non-trivial properties of fractional operators. This review aims to provide a clear and accessible description of fractional viscoelastic models for a broad audience and to demonstrate the ability of these models to deliver a unified approach for the characterisation of power-law materials. The use of a consistent framework for the analysis of rheological data would help classify the empirical behaviours of soft and biological materials, and better understand their response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Bonfanti
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK.
| | - J L Kaplan
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK.
| | - G Charras
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, UK and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, UK
| | - A Kabla
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Bostoen CL, Berret JF. A mathematical finance approach to the stochastic and intermittent viscosity fluctuations in living cells. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:5959-5969. [PMID: 32542279 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm02534k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Here we report on the viscosity of eukaryotic living cells, as a function of time, and on the application of stochastic models to analyze its temporal fluctuations. The viscoelastic properties of NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells are investigated using an active microrheological technique, where the magnetic wires, embedded into cells, are being actuated remotely. The data reveal anomalous transient responses characterized by intermittent phases of slow and fast rotation, revealing significant fluctuations. The time dependent viscosity is analyzed from a time series perspective by computing the autocorrelation functions and the variograms, two functions used to describe stochastic processes in mathematical finance. The resulting analysis gives evidence of a sub-diffusive mean-reverting process characterized by an autoregressive coefficient lower than 1. It also shows the existence of specific cellular times in the ranges 1-10 s and 100-200 s, not previously disclosed. The shorter time is found to be related to the internal relaxation time of the cytoplasm. To our knowledge, this is the first time that similarities are established between the properties of time series describing the intracellular metabolism and the statistical results from a mathematical finance approach. The current approach could be exploited to reveal hidden features from biological complex systems or to determine new biomarkers of cellular metabolism.
Collapse
|
36
|
Knoff DS, Szczublewski H, Altamirano D, Cortes KAF, Kim M. Cytoskeleton-inspired artificial protein design to enhance polymer network elasticity. Macromolecules 2020; 53:3464-3471. [PMID: 32601508 PMCID: PMC7323958 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c00514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Reducing topological network defects to enhance elasticity in polymeric materials remains a grand challenge. Efforts to control network topology, primarily focused on crosslinking junctions, continue to underperform compared to theoretical estimations from idealized networks using affine and phantom network theories. Here, artificial protein technology was adapted for the design of polymer-network hydrogels with precisely defined coil-like and rod-like strands to observe the impact of strand rigidity on the mechanical properties of polymeric materials. Cytoskeleton-inspired polymer-network hydrogels incorporated with rod-like protein strands nearly tripled the gel shear elastic modulus and relaxation time compared to coil-like protein strands, indicating an enhanced effective crosslinking density. Furthermore, asymmetric rod-coil protein designs in network strands with an optimal rod:coil ratio improved the hydrogel relaxation time, enhancing the stability of physical macromolecular associations by modulating crosslinker mobility. The careful design of strand rigidity presents a new direction to reduce topological defects for optimizing polymeric materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David S. Knoff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
| | - Haley Szczublewski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
| | - Dallas Altamirano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
| | | | - Minkyu Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Berntsen P, Ericsson T, Swenson J, Sjögren L. Complex modulus and compliance for airway smooth muscle cells. Phys Rev E 2020; 101:032410. [PMID: 32289912 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.101.032410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
A cell can be described as a complex viscoelastic material with structural relaxations that is modulated by thermal and chemically nonequilibrium processes. Tissue morphology and function rely upon cells' physical responses to mechanical force. We measured the frequency-dependent mechanical relaxation response of adherent human airway smooth muscle cells under adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion and normal ATP conditions. The frequency dependence of the complex compliance J^{*} and modulus G^{*} was measured over the frequencies 10^{-1}<f<10^{3} Hz at selected temperatures between 4<T<54^{∘}C. Our results show characteristic relaxation features which can be interpreted by the mode-coupling theory (MCT) of viscoelastic liquids. We analyze the shape of the spectra in terms of a so-called A_{4} scenario with logarithmic scaling laws. Characteristic timescales τ_{β} and τ_{α} appear with corresponding energy barriers E_{β}≈(10-20)k_{B}T and E_{α}≈(20-30)k_{B}T. We demonstrate that cells are close to a glass transition. We find that the cell becomes softer around physiological temperatures, where its surface structure is more liquid-like with a plateau modulus around 0.1-0.8 kPa compared with the more solid-like interior cytoskeletal structures with a plateau modulus 1-15 kPa. Corresponding values for the viscosity are 10^{2}-10^{3} Pa s for the surface structures closer to the membrane and 10^{4}-10^{6} Pa s for the core cytoskeletal structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Berntsen
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Thomas Ericsson
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, and the University of Gothenburg, 41296 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Jan Swenson
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Lennart Sjögren
- Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Göteborg, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
de Sousa JS, Freire RS, Sousa FD, Radmacher M, Silva AFB, Ramos MV, Monteiro-Moreira ACO, Mesquita FP, Moraes MEA, Montenegro RC, Oliveira CLN. Double power-law viscoelastic relaxation of living cells encodes motility trends. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4749. [PMID: 32179816 PMCID: PMC7075927 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61631-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Living cells are constantly exchanging momentum with their surroundings. So far, there is no consensus regarding how cells respond to such external stimuli, although it reveals much about their internal structures, motility as well as the emergence of disorders. Here, we report that twelve cell lines, ranging from healthy fibroblasts to cancer cells, hold a ubiquitous double power-law viscoelastic relaxation compatible with the fractional Kelvin-Voigt viscoelastic model. Atomic Force Microscopy measurements in time domain were employed to determine the mechanical parameters, namely, the fast and slow relaxation exponents, the crossover timescale between power law regimes, and the cell stiffness. These cell-dependent quantities show strong correlation with their collective migration and invasiveness properties. Beyond that, the crossover timescale sets the fastest timescale for cells to perform their biological functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J S de Sousa
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60455-970, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
| | - R S Freire
- Central Analítica, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60455-970, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - F D Sousa
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60455-970, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - M Radmacher
- Institute of Biophysics, University of Bremen, Otto-Hahn Allee 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - A F B Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60440-554, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - M V Ramos
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60440-554, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - A C O Monteiro-Moreira
- Centro de Biologia Experimental, Universidade de Fortaleza, 60811-905, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - F P Mesquita
- Núcleo de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Medicamentos, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60430-275, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - M E A Moraes
- Núcleo de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Medicamentos, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60430-275, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - R C Montenegro
- Núcleo de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Medicamentos, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60430-275, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - C L N Oliveira
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60455-970, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Efremov YM, Okajima T, Raman A. Measuring viscoelasticity of soft biological samples using atomic force microscopy. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:64-81. [PMID: 31720656 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01020c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical properties play important roles at different scales in biology. At the level of a single cell, the mechanical properties mediate mechanosensing and mechanotransduction, while at the tissue and organ levels, changes in mechanical properties are closely connected to disease and physiological processes. Over the past three decades, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become one of the most widely used tools in the mechanical characterization of soft samples, ranging from molecules, cell organoids and cells to whole tissue. AFM methods can be used to quantify both elastic and viscoelastic properties, and significant recent developments in the latter have been enabled by the introduction of new techniques and models for data analysis. Here, we review AFM techniques developed in recent years for examining the viscoelastic properties of cells and soft gels, describe the main steps in typical data acquisition and analysis protocols, and discuss relevant viscoelastic models and how these have been used to characterize the specific features of cellular and other biological samples. We also discuss recent trends and potential directions for this field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuri M Efremov
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. and Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Takaharu Okajima
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Arvind Raman
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. and Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Wala J, Das S. Mapping of biomechanical properties of cell lines on altered matrix stiffness using atomic force microscopy. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2020; 19:1523-1536. [DOI: 10.1007/s10237-019-01285-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
|
41
|
Liu A, Yu T, Young K, Stone N, Hanasoge S, Kirby TJ, Varadarajan V, Colonna N, Liu J, Raj A, Lammerding J, Alexeev A, Sulchek T. Cell Mechanical and Physiological Behavior in the Regime of Rapid Mechanical Compressions that Lead to Cell Volume Change. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e1903857. [PMID: 31782912 PMCID: PMC7012384 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201903857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Cells respond to mechanical forces by deforming in accordance with viscoelastic solid behavior. Studies of microscale cell deformation observed by high speed video microscopy have elucidated a new cell behavior in which sufficiently rapid mechanical compression of cells can lead to transient cell volume loss and then recovery. This work has discovered that the resulting volume exchange between the cell interior and the surrounding fluid can be utilized for efficient, convective delivery of large macromolecules (2000 kDa) to the cell interior. However, many fundamental questions remain about this cell behavior, including the range of deformation time scales that result in cell volume loss and the physiological effects experienced by the cell. In this study, a relationship is established between cell viscoelastic properties and the inertial forces imposed on the cell that serves as a predictor of cell volume loss across human cell types. It is determined that cells maintain nuclear envelope integrity and demonstrate low protein loss after the volume exchange process. These results define a highly controlled cell volume exchange mechanism for intracellular delivery of large macromolecules that maintains cell viability and function for invaluable downstream research and clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Liu
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 313 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0535, USA
| | - Tong Yu
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 313 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0535, USA
| | - Katherine Young
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 313 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0535, USA
| | - Nicholas Stone
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 801 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0405, USA
| | - Srinivas Hanasoge
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 801 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0405, USA
| | - Tyler J. Kirby
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Vikram Varadarajan
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 313 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0535, USA
| | - Nicholas Colonna
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 313 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0535, USA
| | - Janet Liu
- Aragon High School, 900 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, CA, 94402, USA
| | - Abhishek Raj
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 801 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0405, USA
| | - Jan Lammerding
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Alexander Alexeev
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 801 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0405, USA
| | - Todd Sulchek
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 801 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0405, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Jerusalem A, Al-Rekabi Z, Chen H, Ercole A, Malboubi M, Tamayo-Elizalde M, Verhagen L, Contera S. Electrophysiological-mechanical coupling in the neuronal membrane and its role in ultrasound neuromodulation and general anaesthesia. Acta Biomater 2019; 97:116-140. [PMID: 31357005 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.07.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The current understanding of the role of the cell membrane is in a state of flux. Recent experiments show that conventional models, considering only electrophysiological properties of a passive membrane, are incomplete. The neuronal membrane is an active structure with mechanical properties that modulate electrophysiology. Protein transport, lipid bilayer phase, membrane pressure and stiffness can all influence membrane capacitance and action potential propagation. A mounting body of evidence indicates that neuronal mechanics and electrophysiology are coupled, and together shape the membrane potential in tight coordination with other physical properties. In this review, we summarise recent updates concerning electrophysiological-mechanical coupling in neuronal function. In particular, we aim at making the link with two relevant yet often disconnected fields with strong clinical potential: the use of mechanical vibrations-ultrasound-to alter the electrophysiogical state of neurons, e.g., in neuromodulation, and the theories attempting to explain the action of general anaesthetics. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: General anaesthetics revolutionised medical practice; now an apparently unrelated technique, ultrasound neuromodulation-aimed at controlling neuronal activity by means of ultrasound-is poised to achieve a similar level of impact. While both technologies are known to alter the electrophysiology of neurons, the way they achieve it is still largely unknown. In this review, we argue that in order to explain their mechanisms/effects, the neuronal membrane must be considered as a coupled mechano-electrophysiological system that consists of multiple physical processes occurring concurrently and collaboratively, as opposed to sequentially and independently. In this framework the behaviour of the cell membrane is not the result of stereotypical mechanisms in isolation but instead emerges from the integrative behaviour of a complexly coupled multiphysics system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Jerusalem
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK.
| | - Zeinab Al-Rekabi
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, UK
| | - Haoyu Chen
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
| | - Ari Ercole
- Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Majid Malboubi
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
| | - Miren Tamayo-Elizalde
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK
| | - Lennart Verhagen
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (WIN), Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK; WIN, Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Sonia Contera
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Luo L, Wang L, Paré PD, Seow CY, Chitano P. The Huxley crossbridge model as the basic mechanism for airway smooth muscle contraction. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2019; 317:L235-L246. [PMID: 31116578 PMCID: PMC6734385 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00051.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The cyclic interaction between myosin crossbridges and actin filaments underlies smooth muscle contraction. Phosphorylation of the 20-kDa myosin light chain (MLC20) is a crucial step in activating the crossbridge cycle. Our current understanding of smooth muscle contraction is based on observed correlations among MLC20 phosphorylation, maximal shortening velocity (Vmax), and isometric force over the time course of contraction. However, during contraction there are changes in the extent of phosphorylation of many additional proteins as well as changes in activation of enzymes associated with the signaling pathways. As a consequence, the mechanical manifestation of muscle contraction is likely to change with time. To simplify the study of these relationships, we measured the mechanical properties of airway smooth muscle at different levels of MLC20 phosphorylation at a fixed time during contraction. A simple correlation emerged when time-dependent variables were fixed. MLC20 phosphorylation was found to be directly and linearly correlated with the active stress, stiffness, and power of the muscle; the observed weak dependence of Vmax on MLC20 phosphorylation could be explained by the presence of an internal load in the muscle preparation. These results can be entirely explained by the Huxley crossbridge model. We conclude that when the influence of time-dependent events during contraction is held constant, the basic crossbridge mechanism in smooth muscle is the same as that in striated muscle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling Luo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Chongqing University Cancer Hospital and Chongqing Cancer Institute, Chongqing, China
- The Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- The Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Peter D Paré
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- The Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Chun Y Seow
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- The Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pasquale Chitano
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- The Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Shi Y, Porter CL, Crocker JC, Reich DH. Dissecting fat-tailed fluctuations in the cytoskeleton with active micropost arrays. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:13839-13846. [PMID: 31239336 PMCID: PMC6628664 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1900963116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of animal cells to crawl, change their shape, and respond to applied force is due to their cytoskeleton: A dynamic, cross-linked network of actin protein filaments and myosin motors. How these building blocks assemble to give rise to cells' mechanics and behavior remains poorly understood. Using active micropost array detectors containing magnetic actuators, we have characterized the mechanics and fluctuations of cells' actomyosin cortex and stress fiber network in detail. Here, we find that both structures display remarkably consistent power law viscoelastic behavior along with highly intermittent fluctuations with fat-tailed distributions of amplitudes. Notably, this motion in the cortex is dominated by occasional large, step-like displacement events, with a spatial extent of several micrometers. Overall, our findings for the cortex appear contrary to the predictions of a recent active gel model, while suggesting that different actomyosin contractile units act in a highly collective and cooperative manner. We hypothesize that cells' actomyosin components robustly self-organize into marginally stable, plastic networks that give cells' their unique biomechanical properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Shi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218
| | - Christopher L Porter
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - John C Crocker
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Daniel H Reich
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218;
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Mulla Y, MacKintosh FC, Koenderink GH. Origin of Slow Stress Relaxation in the Cytoskeleton. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2019; 122:218102. [PMID: 31283330 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.122.218102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Dynamically cross-linked semiflexible biopolymers such as the actin cytoskeleton govern the mechanical behavior of living cells. Semiflexible biopolymers nonlinearly stiffen in response to mechanical loads, whereas the cross-linker dynamics allow for stress relaxation over time. Here we show, through rheology and theoretical modeling, that the combined nonlinearity in time and stress leads to an unexpectedly slow stress relaxation, similar to the dynamics of disordered systems close to the glass transition. Our work suggests that transient cross-linking combined with internal stress can explain prior reports of soft glassy rheology of cells, in which the shear modulus increases weakly with frequency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Mulla
- Living Matter Department, AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - F C MacKintosh
- Departments of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics & Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gijsje H Koenderink
- Living Matter Department, AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Furlani F, Sacco P, Scognamiglio F, Asaro F, Travan A, Borgogna M, Marsich E, Cok M, Paoletti S, Donati I. Nucleation, reorganization and disassembly of an active network from lactose-modified chitosan mimicking biological matrices. Carbohydr Polym 2019; 208:451-456. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.12.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
|
47
|
Wang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Li J, Pan Y, Liu L, Deng L. Saponins of Dioscorea Nipponicae Inhibits IL-17A-Induced Changes in Biomechanical Behaviors of In Vitro Cultured Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 2:0110021-110027. [PMID: 32328572 PMCID: PMC7164499 DOI: 10.1115/1.4042317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is one of the main pathologic features of bronchial asthma, which is largely attributable to enhanced contractile response of asthmatic airway smooth muscle. Although β2 adrenergic receptor agonists are commonly used to relax airway smooth muscle for treating AHR, there are side effects such as desensitization of long-term use. Therefore, it is desirable to develop alternative relaxant for airway smooth muscle, preferably based on natural products. One potential candidate is the inexpensive and widely available natural herb saponins of Dioscorea nipponicae (SDN), which has recently been reported to suppress the level of inflammatory factor IL-17A in ovalbumin-induced mice, thereby alleviating the inflammation symptoms of asthma. Here, we evaluated the biomechanical effect of SDN on IL-17A-mediated changes of cultured human airway smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) in vitro. The stiffness and traction force of the cells were measured by optical magnetic twisting cytometry (OMTC), and Fourier transform traction microscopy (FTTM), respectively. The cell proliferation was evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetry, the cell migration was measured by cell scratch test, and the changes of cell cytoskeleton were assessed by laser confocal microscopy. We found that the stiffness and traction force of HASMCs were enhanced along with the increases of IL-17A concentration and exposure time, and SDN treatment dose-dependently reduced these IL-17A-induced changes in cell mechanical properties. Furthermore, SDN alleviated IL-17A-mediated effects on HASMCs proliferation, migration, and cytoskeleton remodeling. These results demonstrate that SDN could potentially be a novel drug candidate as bronchodilator for treating asthma-associated AHR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- Changzhou Key Laboratory ofRespiratory Medical Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences
| | - Yifan Zhang
- Changzhou Key Laboratory ofRespiratory Medical Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences; School of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Life Science/School of Nursing, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213003, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Changzhou Key Laboratory of Respiratory Medical Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China
| | - Yan Pan
- Changzhou Key Laboratory of Respiratory Medical Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Changzhou Key Laboratory of Respiratory Medical Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China
| | - Linhong Deng
- Changzhou Key Laboratory of Respiratory Medical Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences; School of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Life Science/School of Nursing, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China e-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Fregin B, Czerwinski F, Biedenweg D, Girardo S, Gross S, Aurich K, Otto O. High-throughput single-cell rheology in complex samples by dynamic real-time deformability cytometry. Nat Commun 2019; 10:415. [PMID: 30679420 PMCID: PMC6346011 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08370-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In life sciences, the material properties of suspended cells have attained significance close to that of fluorescent markers but with the advantage of label-free and unbiased sample characterization. Until recently, cell rheological measurements were either limited by acquisition throughput, excessive post processing, or low-throughput real-time analysis. Real-time deformability cytometry expanded the application of mechanical cell assays to fast on-the-fly phenotyping of large sample sizes, but has been restricted to single material parameters as the Young's modulus. Here, we introduce dynamic real-time deformability cytometry for comprehensive cell rheological measurements at up to 100 cells per second. Utilizing Fourier decomposition, our microfluidic method is able to disentangle cell response to complex hydrodynamic stress distributions and to determine viscoelastic parameters independent of cell shape. We demonstrate the application of our technology for peripheral blood cells in whole blood samples including the discrimination of B- and CD4+ T-lymphocytes by cell rheological properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bob Fregin
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Fabian Czerwinski
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Doreen Biedenweg
- Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 8, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Salvatore Girardo
- Biotechnology Center, Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 47/49, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Gross
- Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 8, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V., Standort Greifswald, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Konstanze Aurich
- Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 8, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Oliver Otto
- Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz: Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Universität Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
- Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V., Standort Greifswald, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Fleischmannstr. 42, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Gong B, Wei X, Qian J, Lin Y. Modeling and Simulations of the Dynamic Behaviors of Actin-Based Cytoskeletal Networks. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2019; 5:3720-3734. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.8b01228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Gong
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Key Laboratory of Soft Machines and Smart Devices of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
| | - Xi Wei
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jin Qian
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Key Laboratory of Soft Machines and Smart Devices of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
| | - Yuan Lin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
MORISAKU T, KIDO Y, ASAI K, YUI H. Mechanical Properties of the Coat Protein Layer and Cortex in Single Bacillus subtilis Spores Studied with an Atomic Force Microscope and Laser-induced Surface Deformation Microscope. ANAL SCI 2019; 35:45-48. [DOI: 10.2116/analsci.18sdp02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Toshinori MORISAKU
- Water Frontier Science & Technology Research Center, Research Institute for Science & Technology, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Yuriko KIDO
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Kei ASAI
- Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University
| | - Hiroharu YUI
- Water Frontier Science & Technology Research Center, Research Institute for Science & Technology, Tokyo University of Science
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science
| |
Collapse
|