Analysis of initial cell spreading using mechanistic contact formulations for a deformable cell model

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Mechanics
• Adhesion Science

Background:

• Cell adhesion is crucial for mechanical interactions between cells and their environment.
• Initial cell spreading is a fundamental process driven by adhesion, offering insights into cell-substrate interactions.
• Universal power laws describe the initial spreading behavior across diverse cell types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanisms underlying the universal power laws observed in initial cell spreading.
• To develop and utilize a mechanistic model combining cell-substrate contact and deformable red blood cell (RBC) dynamics.
• To understand the role of geometry, dissipation, and cell cortex tension in cell spreading.

Main Methods:

• Developed a mechanistic model for cell-substrate contact interaction.
• Incorporated a deformable red blood cell (RBC) model to study elastic responses.
• Analyzed the scaling of spreading area radius with time using power laws.

Main Results:

• The model explains initial cell spreading via geometrical effects and dissipation upon contact.
• Spreading rate decreases over time due to increasing cell cortex tension and dissipation.
• Observed initial spreading can be reproduced without requiring irreversible cell deformations.

Conclusions:

• Initial cell spreading follows universal power laws driven by geometrical effects and dissipation.
• Cell cortex tension and dissipation regulate later stages of spreading.
• The developed model is extensible to complex cell types and varied microenvironments, aiding studies on cell boundary forces.