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Modeling cell entry into a micro-channel

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Abstract

Cell entry into a micro-channel has potential applications in cell sorting and cancer diagnostics. In this paper, we numerically model breast cancer cell entry into a constricted micro-channel. Our results indicate that the cell velocity decreases during entry and increases after entry, an observation in agreement with experiments. We found that the cell entry time depend strongly on the cortical stiffness and is minimum at some critical cortical elasticity. In addition, we found that for the same entry time, a stiff nucleus is displaced toward the cell front, whereas a viscous nucleus is displaced toward the rear. In comparison, the nucleus is less sensitive to the viscosity of the cytoplasm. These observations suggest that specific intra-cellular properties can be deduced non-invasively during cell entry, through the inspection of the nucleus using suitable illumination techniques, such as fluorescent labeling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing, 1 Fusionopolis Way, #16-16 Connexis, Singapore, 138632, Singapore

    Fong Yew Leong & Keng-Hwee Chiam

  2. Division of Bioengineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117576, Singapore

    Qingsen Li & Chwee Teck Lim

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  1. Fong Yew Leong
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  2. Qingsen Li
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  3. Chwee Teck Lim
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  4. Keng-Hwee Chiam
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Correspondence to Keng-Hwee Chiam.

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Leong, F.Y., Li, Q., Lim, C.T. et al. Modeling cell entry into a micro-channel. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 10, 755–766 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-010-0271-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-010-0271-1

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