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Title: Sub-cellular force microscopy in single normal and cancer cells

Abstract

This work investigates the biomechanical properties of sub-cellular structures of breast cells using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The cells are modeled as a triple-layered structure where the Generalized Maxwell model is applied to experimental data from AFM stress-relaxation tests to extract the elastic modulus, the apparent viscosity, and the relaxation time of sub-cellular structures. The triple-layered modeling results allow for determination and comparison of the biomechanical properties of the three major sub-cellular structures between normal and cancerous cells: the up plasma membrane/actin cortex, the mid cytoplasm/nucleus, and the low nuclear/integrin sub-domains. The results reveal that the sub-domains become stiffer and significantly more viscous with depth, regardless of cell type. In addition, there is a decreasing trend in the average elastic modulus and apparent viscosity of the all corresponding sub-cellular structures from normal to cancerous cells, which becomes most remarkable in the deeper sub-domain. The presented modeling in this work constitutes a unique AFM-based experimental framework to study the biomechanics of sub-cellular structures. - Highlights: • The cells are modeled as a triple-layered structure using Generalized Maxwell model. • The sub-domains include membrane/cortex, cytoplasm/nucleus, and nuclear/integrin. • Biomechanics of corresponding sub-domains are compared among normal and cancer cells. • Viscoelasticity ofmore » sub-domains show a decreasing trend from normal to cancer cells. • The decreasing trend becomes most significant in the deeper sub-domain.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. VT MEMS Laboratory, The Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Blacksburg, VA 24061 (United States)
  2. Nonlinear Intelligent Structures Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0276 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22462138
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 463; Journal Issue: 4; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2015 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0006-291X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; ACTIN; ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; CYTOPLASM; DEPTH; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; MEMBRANES; NEOPLASMS; RELAXATION TIME; SIMULATION; STRESS RELAXATION; VISCOSITY

Citation Formats

Babahosseini, H., Carmichael, B., Strobl, J. S., Mahmoodi, S.N., E-mail: nmahmoodi@eng.ua.edu, and Agah, M., E-mail: agah@vt.edu. Sub-cellular force microscopy in single normal and cancer cells. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1016/J.BBRC.2015.05.100.
Babahosseini, H., Carmichael, B., Strobl, J. S., Mahmoodi, S.N., E-mail: nmahmoodi@eng.ua.edu, & Agah, M., E-mail: agah@vt.edu. Sub-cellular force microscopy in single normal and cancer cells. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BBRC.2015.05.100
Babahosseini, H., Carmichael, B., Strobl, J. S., Mahmoodi, S.N., E-mail: nmahmoodi@eng.ua.edu, and Agah, M., E-mail: agah@vt.edu. 2015. "Sub-cellular force microscopy in single normal and cancer cells". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BBRC.2015.05.100.
@article{osti_22462138,
title = {Sub-cellular force microscopy in single normal and cancer cells},
author = {Babahosseini, H. and Carmichael, B. and Strobl, J. S. and Mahmoodi, S.N., E-mail: nmahmoodi@eng.ua.edu and Agah, M., E-mail: agah@vt.edu},
abstractNote = {This work investigates the biomechanical properties of sub-cellular structures of breast cells using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The cells are modeled as a triple-layered structure where the Generalized Maxwell model is applied to experimental data from AFM stress-relaxation tests to extract the elastic modulus, the apparent viscosity, and the relaxation time of sub-cellular structures. The triple-layered modeling results allow for determination and comparison of the biomechanical properties of the three major sub-cellular structures between normal and cancerous cells: the up plasma membrane/actin cortex, the mid cytoplasm/nucleus, and the low nuclear/integrin sub-domains. The results reveal that the sub-domains become stiffer and significantly more viscous with depth, regardless of cell type. In addition, there is a decreasing trend in the average elastic modulus and apparent viscosity of the all corresponding sub-cellular structures from normal to cancerous cells, which becomes most remarkable in the deeper sub-domain. The presented modeling in this work constitutes a unique AFM-based experimental framework to study the biomechanics of sub-cellular structures. - Highlights: • The cells are modeled as a triple-layered structure using Generalized Maxwell model. • The sub-domains include membrane/cortex, cytoplasm/nucleus, and nuclear/integrin. • Biomechanics of corresponding sub-domains are compared among normal and cancer cells. • Viscoelasticity of sub-domains show a decreasing trend from normal to cancer cells. • The decreasing trend becomes most significant in the deeper sub-domain.},
doi = {10.1016/J.BBRC.2015.05.100},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22462138}, journal = {Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications},
issn = {0006-291X},
number = 4,
volume = 463,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Aug 07 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Fri Aug 07 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}