Papers Published

1. Hoffman, B. D.* and Massiera, G.* and Van Citters, K. M. and Crocker, J. C., The consensus mechanics of cultured mammalian cells, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 103 no. 27 (2006), pp. 10259-10264 .
   (last updated on 2011/11/11)

   Abstract:
   Although understanding cells' responses to mechanical stimuli is seen as increasingly important for understanding cell biology, how to best measure, interpret, and model cells' mechanical properties remains unclear. We determine the frequency-dependent shear modulus of cultured mammalian cells by using four different methods, both unique and well established. This approach clarifies the effects of cytoskeletal heterogeneity, ATP-dependent processes, and cell regional variations on the interpretation of such measurements. Our results clearly indicate two qualitatively Similar, but distinct, mechanical responses, corresponding to the cortical and intracellular networks, each having an unusual, weak power-law form at low frequency. The two frequency-dependent responses we observe are remarkably similar to those reported for a variety of cultured mammalian cells measured with different techniques, suggesting it is a useful consensus description. Finally, we discuss possible physical explanations for the observed mechanical response.

   Keywords:
   cell mechanics cytoskeleton mechanotransduction microrheology atomic-force microscopy smooth-muscle-cells living cells actin networks creep function myosin-ii microrheology dynamics model soft