Modeling universal dynamics of cell spreading on elastic substrates

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Soft Matter Physics
• Cellular Dynamics

Background:

• Cell spreading on elastic substrates is crucial for cellular functions.
• Understanding the dynamics of cell spreading requires multiscale modeling.
• Actin tension plays a significant role in cell spreading dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply a 3D multiscale model for cell spreading dynamics.
• To investigate the universal dynamics of cell spreading over elastic substrates.
• To incorporate the effect of actin tension in cell spreading simulations.

Main Methods:

• Combined a 3D multiscale moving contact line model with a soft matter cell model.
• Modeled the cell as an active nematic droplet and the substrate as a St. Venant Kirchhoff elastic medium.
• Performed complete 3D simulations of cell spreading, considering early and late stages.

Main Results:

• Simulation results demonstrated that spreading area versus time follows specific power laws at different stages.
• These power law predictions align well with existing experimental data and theoretical findings.
• Substrate elasticity was shown to influence the force dipole distribution within the cell.

Conclusions:

• The developed model successfully simulates cell spreading dynamics, incorporating actin tension effects.
• This approach offers a powerful tool for studying complex cellular phenomena like spreading and crawling.
• The findings provide insights into the interplay between cell mechanics and substrate properties.