Abstract
Spherical cellular aggregates are in vitro systems to study the physical and biophysical properties of tissues. We present a novel approach to characterize the mechanical properties of cellular aggregates using a micropipette aspiration technique. We observe an aspiration in two distinct regimes: a fast elastic deformation followed by a viscous flow. We develop a model based on this viscoelastic behavior to deduce the surface tension, viscosity, and elastic modulus. A major result is the increase of the surface tension with the applied force, interpreted as an effect of cellular mechanosensing.
- Received 24 November 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.218101
©2010 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Cellular aggregates under pressure
Published 24 May 2010
Researchers develop a new approach to measuring the viscoelastic properties of multicellular aggregates by using a micropipette aspiration technique.
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