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LeBourdais R, Grifno GN, Banerji R, Regan K, Suki B, Nia HT. Mapping the strain-stiffening behavior of the lung and lung cancer at microscale resolution using the crystal ribcage. FRONTIERS IN NETWORK PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 4:1396593. [PMID: 39050550 PMCID: PMC11266057 DOI: 10.3389/fnetp.2024.1396593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Lung diseases such as cancer substantially alter the mechanical properties of the organ with direct impact on the development, progression, diagnosis, and treatment response of diseases. Despite significant interest in the lung's material properties, measuring the stiffness of intact lungs at sub-alveolar resolution has not been possible. Recently, we developed the crystal ribcage to image functioning lungs at optical resolution while controlling physiological parameters such as air pressure. Here, we introduce a data-driven, multiscale network model that takes images of the lung at different distending pressures, acquired via the crystal ribcage, and produces corresponding absolute stiffness maps. Following validation, we report absolute stiffness maps of the functioning lung at microscale resolution in health and disease. For representative images of a healthy lung and a lung with primary cancer, we find that while the lung exhibits significant stiffness heterogeneity at the microscale, primary tumors introduce even greater heterogeneity into the lung's microenvironment. Additionally, we observe that while the healthy alveoli exhibit strain-stiffening of ∼1.75 times, the tumor's stiffness increases by a factor of six across the range of measured transpulmonary pressures. While the tumor stiffness is 1.4 times the lung stiffness at a transpulmonary pressure of three cmH2O, the tumor's mean stiffness is nearly five times greater than that of the surrounding tissue at a transpulmonary pressure of 18 cmH2O. Finally, we report that the variance in both strain and stiffness increases with transpulmonary pressure in both the healthy and cancerous lungs. Our new method allows quantitative assessment of disease-induced stiffness changes in the alveoli with implications for mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Hadi T. Nia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
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2
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Dalaka E, Hill JS, Booth JHH, Popczyk A, Pulver SR, Gather MC, Schubert M. Deformable microlaser force sensing. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2024; 13:129. [PMID: 38834554 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-024-01471-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Mechanical forces are key regulators of cellular behavior and function, affecting many fundamental biological processes such as cell migration, embryogenesis, immunological responses, and pathological states. Specialized force sensors and imaging techniques have been developed to quantify these otherwise invisible forces in single cells and in vivo. However, current techniques rely heavily on high-resolution microscopy and do not allow interrogation of optically dense tissue, reducing their application to 2D cell cultures and highly transparent biological tissue. Here, we introduce DEFORM, deformable microlaser force sensing, a spectroscopic technique that detects sub-nanonewton forces with unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution. DEFORM is based on the spectral analysis of laser emission from dye-doped oil microdroplets and uses the force-induced lifting of laser mode degeneracy in these droplets to detect nanometer deformations. Following validation by atomic force microscopy and development of a model that links changes in laser spectrum to applied force, DEFORM is used to measure forces in 3D and at depths of hundreds of microns within tumor spheroids and late-stage Drosophila larva. We furthermore show continuous force sensing with single-cell spatial and millisecond temporal resolution, thus paving the way for non-invasive studies of biomechanical forces in advanced stages of embryogenesis, tissue remodeling, and tumor invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Dalaka
- Centre of Biophotonics, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, UK
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joseph S Hill
- Centre of Biophotonics, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, UK
- Humboldt Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Jonathan H H Booth
- Humboldt Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, South Street, St Andrews, UK
| | - Anna Popczyk
- Humboldt Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
| | - Stefan R Pulver
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, South Street, St Andrews, UK
| | - Malte C Gather
- Centre of Biophotonics, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, UK.
- Humboldt Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany.
| | - Marcel Schubert
- Humboldt Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany.
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3
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Akinpelu A, Akinsipe T, Avila LA, Arnold RD, Mistriotis P. The impact of tumor microenvironment: unraveling the role of physical cues in breast cancer progression. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024; 43:823-844. [PMID: 38238542 PMCID: PMC11156564 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-024-10166-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Metastasis accounts for the vast majority of breast cancer-related fatalities. Although the contribution of genetic and epigenetic modifications to breast cancer progression has been widely acknowledged, emerging evidence underscores the pivotal role of physical stimuli in driving breast cancer metastasis. In this review, we summarize the changes in the mechanics of the breast cancer microenvironment and describe the various forces that impact migrating and circulating tumor cells throughout the metastatic process. We also discuss the mechanosensing and mechanotransducing molecules responsible for promoting the malignant phenotype in breast cancer cells. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the mechanobiology of breast cancer carries substantial potential to propel progress in prognosis, diagnosis, and patient treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayuba Akinpelu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
| | - Tosin Akinsipe
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
| | - L Adriana Avila
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
| | - Robert D Arnold
- Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
| | - Panagiotis Mistriotis
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
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Ang I, Yousafzai MS, Yadav V, Mohler K, Rinehart J, Bouklas N, Murrell M. Elastocapillary effects determine early matrix deformation by glioblastoma cell spheroids. APL Bioeng 2024; 8:026109. [PMID: 38706957 PMCID: PMC11069407 DOI: 10.1063/5.0191765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
During cancer pathogenesis, cell-generated mechanical stresses lead to dramatic alterations in the mechanical and organizational properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM). To date, contraction of the ECM is largely attributed to local mechanical stresses generated during cell invasion, but the impact of "elastocapillary" effects from surface tension on the tumor periphery has not been examined. Here, we embed glioblastoma cell spheroids within collagen gels, as a model of tumors within the ECM. We then modulate the surface tension of the spheroids, such that the spheroid contracts or expands. Surprisingly, in both cases, at the far-field, the ECM is contracted toward the spheroids prior to cellular migration from the spheroid into the ECM. Through computational simulation, we demonstrate that contraction of the ECM arises from a balance of spheroid surface tension, cell-ECM interactions, and time-dependent, poroelastic effects of the gel. This leads to the accumulation of ECM near the periphery of the spheroid and the contraction of the ECM without regard to the expansion or contraction of the spheroid. These results highlight the role of tissue-level surface stresses and fluid flow within the ECM in the regulation of cell-ECM interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Ang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
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5
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Zheng S, Banerji R, LeBourdais R, Zhang S, DuBois E, O’Shea T, Nia HT. Alteration of mechanical stresses in the murine brain by age and hemorrhagic stroke. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae141. [PMID: 38659974 PMCID: PMC11042661 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Residual mechanical stresses, also known as solid stresses, emerge during rapid differential growth or remodeling of tissues, as observed in morphogenesis and tumor growth. While residual stresses typically dissipate in most healthy adult organs, as the growth rate decreases, high residual stresses have been reported in mature, healthy brains. However, the origins and consequences of residual mechanical stresses in the brain across health, aging, and disease remain poorly understood. Here, we utilized and validated a previously developed method to map residual mechanical stresses in the brains of mice across three age groups: 5-7 days, 8-12 weeks, and 22 months. We found that residual solid stress rapidly increases from 5-7 days to 8-12 weeks and remains high in mature 22 months mice brains. Three-dimensional mapping revealed unevenly distributed residual stresses from the anterior to posterior coronal brain sections. Since the brain is rich in negatively charged hyaluronic acid, we evaluated the contribution of charged extracellular matrix (ECM) constituents in maintaining solid stress levels. We found that lower ionic strength leads to elevated solid stresses, consistent with its unshielding effect and the subsequent expansion of charged ECM components. Lastly, we demonstrated that hemorrhagic stroke, accompanied by loss of cellular density, resulted in decreased residual stress in the murine brain. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of spatiotemporal alterations of residual solid stresses in healthy and diseased brains, a crucial step toward uncovering the biological and immunological consequences of this understudied mechanical phenotype in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyi Zheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rohin Banerji
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rob LeBourdais
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sue Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric DuBois
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Timothy O’Shea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hadi T Nia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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Regan K, LeBourdais R, Banerji R, Zhang S, Muhvich J, Zheng S, Nia HT. Multiscale elasticity mapping of biological samples in 3D at optical resolution. Acta Biomater 2024; 176:250-266. [PMID: 38160857 PMCID: PMC10922809 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.12.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The mechanical properties of biological tissues have emerged as an integral determinant of tissue function in health and disease. Nonetheless, characterizing the elasticity of biological samples in 3D and at high resolution remains challenging. Here, we present a µElastography platform: a scalable elastography system that maps the elastic properties of tissues from cellular to organ scales. The platform leverages the use of a biocompatible, thermo-responsive hydrogel to deliver compressive stress to a biological sample and track its resulting deformation. By surrounding the specimen with a reference hydrogel of known Young's modulus, we are able to map the absolute values of elastic properties in biological samples. We validate the experimental and computational components of the platform using a hydrogel phantom and verify the system's ability to detect internal mechanical heterogeneities. We then apply the platform to map the elasticity of multicellular spheroids and the murine lymph node. With these applications, we demonstrate the platform's ability to map tissue elasticity at internal planes of interest, as well as capture mechanical heterogeneities neglected by most macroscale characterization techniques. The µElastography platform, designed to be implementable in any biology lab with access to 3D microscopy (e.g., confocal, multiphoton, or optical coherence microscopy), will provide the capability to characterize the mechanical properties of biological samples to labs across the large community of biological sciences by eliminating the need of specialized instruments such as atomic force microscopy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Understanding the elasticity of biological tissues is of great importance, but characterizing these properties typically requires highly specialized equipment. Utilizing stimulus-responsive hydrogels, we present a scalable, hydrogel-based elastography method that uses readily available reagents and imaging modalities to generate resolved maps of internal elasticity within biomaterials and biological samples at optical resolution. This new approach is capable of detecting internal stiffness heterogeneities within the 3D bulk of samples and is highly scalable across both imaging modalities and biological length scales. Thus, it will have significant impact on the measurement capabilities of labs studying engineered biomaterials, mechanobiology, disease progression, and tissue engineering and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Regan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Robert LeBourdais
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Rohin Banerji
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sue Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Johnathan Muhvich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Siyi Zheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Hadi T Nia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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7
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Cao R, Tian H, Tian Y, Fu X. A Hierarchical Mechanotransduction System: From Macro to Micro. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2302327. [PMID: 38145330 PMCID: PMC10953595 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302327] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Mechanotransduction is a strictly regulated process whereby mechanical stimuli, including mechanical forces and properties, are sensed and translated into biochemical signals. Increasing data demonstrate that mechanotransduction is crucial for regulating macroscopic and microscopic dynamics and functionalities. However, the actions and mechanisms of mechanotransduction across multiple hierarchies, from molecules, subcellular structures, cells, tissues/organs, to the whole-body level, have not been yet comprehensively documented. Herein, the biological roles and operational mechanisms of mechanotransduction from macro to micro are revisited, with a focus on the orchestrations across diverse hierarchies. The implications, applications, and challenges of mechanotransduction in human diseases are also summarized and discussed. Together, this knowledge from a hierarchical perspective has the potential to refresh insights into mechanotransduction regulation and disease pathogenesis and therapy, and ultimately revolutionize the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Cao
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Huimin Tian
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Yan Tian
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Xianghui Fu
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
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8
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Emon B, Saif MTA. A window into solid stresses within tumours. Nat Biomed Eng 2023; 7:1348-1349. [PMID: 37945753 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-023-01121-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bashar Emon
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - M Taher A Saif
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
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