Electro-Deformation of Fused Cells in a Microfluidic Array Device.

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Analyzing cell deformability is crucial for understanding cell mechanics and fusion processes.
• Microfluidic devices offer precise control for cell manipulation and analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply a novel method for analyzing the deformability of fused versus unfused stem cells using electrical stresses.
• To investigate the influence of applied voltage on cell deformation and correlate experimental findings with theoretical models.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a microfluidic array device with co-planar microelectrodes to apply electrical stresses (4-20 V AC) to stem cells.
• Inducing electro-deformation forces to analyze the mechanical properties of fused and unfused stem cells.
• Modeling the electro-deformation process using the Maxwell stress tensor and principles of cell structural mechanics.

Main Results:

• Fused stem cells demonstrated increased stiffness at lower voltages (<16 V) but greater deformability at higher voltages compared to unfused cells.
• Experimental results showed a positive correlation between applied voltage and cell deformation, consistent with theoretical modeling.
• Differences in deformation ratios between fused and unfused cells were not attributed to size variations, indicating altered cell membrane properties.

Conclusions:

• Electrofusion significantly alters stem cell membrane properties beyond just size, impacting their deformability.
• The study presents a robust method for quantifying cell deformability under electrical stress in microfluidic systems.
• Findings provide insights into the biophysical changes occurring during cell fusion and their functional consequences.