Large Amplitude Oscillatory Shear Rheology of Living Fibroblasts: Path-Dependent Steady States.

ABSTRACT: Mechanical properties of biological cells play a role in cell locomotion, embryonic tissue formation, and tumor migration among many other processes. Cells exhibit a complex nonlinear response to mechanical cues that is not understood. Cells may stiffen as well as soften, depending on the exact type of stimulus. Here we apply large-amplitude oscillatory shear to a monolayer of separated fibroblast cells suspended between two plates. Although we apply identical steady-state excitations, in response we observe different typical regimes that exhibit cell softening or cell stiffening to varying degrees. This degeneracy of the cell response can be linked to the initial paths that the instrument takes to go from cell rest to steady state. A model of cross-linked, force-bearing filaments submitte

SUBMITTER: Sander M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5627183 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature