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Publications

Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Ppublish 10 citations

PubMed: 35390297 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.04.002

Cancer cell viscoelasticity measurement by quantitative phase and flow stress induction.

Biophys J 121(9):1632-1642

Authors: Tomas Vicar, Jiri Chmelik, Jiri Navratil, Radim Kolar, Larisa Chmelikova, Vratislav Cmiel, Jiri Jagos, Ivo Provaznik, Michal Masarik, Jaromir Gumulec

Affiliations

  • Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
  • Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic.
  • Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
  • Department of Tissue Biomechanics and Numerical Modelling in Medicine, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic.
  • Department of Pathological Physiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.

Abstract

Cell viscoelastic properties are affected by the cell cycle, differentiation, and pathological processes such as malignant transformation. Therefore, evaluation of the mechanical properties of the cells proved to be an approach to obtaining information on the functional state of the cells. Most of the currently used methods for cell mechanophenotyping are limited by low robustness or the need for highly expert operation. In this paper, the system and method for viscoelasticity measurement using shear stress induction by fluid flow is described and tested. Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) is used for image acquisition because this technique enables one to quantify optical path length delays introduced by the sample, thus providing a label-free objective measure of morphology and dynamics. Viscosity and elasticity determination were refined using a new approach based on the linear system model and parametric deconvolution. The proposed method allows high-throughput measurements during live-cell experiments and even through a time lapse, whereby we demonstrated the possibility of simultaneous extraction of shear modulus, viscosity, cell morphology, and QPI-derived cell parameters such as circularity or cell mass. Additionally, the proposed method provides a simple approach to measure cell refractive index with the same setup, which is required for reliable cell height measurement with QPI, an essential parameter for viscoelasticity calculation. Reliability of the proposed viscoelasticity measurement system was tested in several experiments including cell types of different Young/shear modulus and treatment with cytochalasin D or docetaxel, and an agreement with atomic force microscopy was observed. The applicability of the proposed approach was also confirmed by a time-lapse experiment with cytochalasin D washout, whereby an increase of stiffness corresponded to actin repolymerization in time.

MeSH

Research Design, Biophysics, Stress, Physiological, Cells, Neoplasms, Cytochalasin D, Microscopy, Atomic Force

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