Mechanical modeling of biological cells in microinjection

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Mechanical Engineering

Background:

• Microinjection is crucial for introducing substances into cells.
• Existing microinjection systems lack a comprehensive understanding of cell mechanics.
• Cellular mechanical responses during injection are not fully characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel mechanical model for biological cells undergoing microinjection.
• To establish a relationship between injection force and cell deformation.
• To infer other mechanical responses like stress, tension, and pressure.

Main Methods:

• Proposed a new mechanical model based on membrane theory.
• Utilized quasi-static equilibrium equations solved via the Runge-Kutta numerical method.
• Experimentally validated the model using microinjection in zebrafish and medaka embryos.

Main Results:

• The model successfully relates injection force to cell deformation.
• It allows inference of injector radius effects, membrane stress/tension, internal pressure, and cell shape.
• Experimental results showed strong agreement with the model's predictions.

Conclusions:

• The proposed model provides accurate estimations of cell biomembrane mechanical properties.
• It enhances the understanding of cellular mechanical responses during microinjection.
• The model serves as a valuable tool for predicting and analyzing microinjection outcomes.