Mechanical Characterization for Cellular Mechanobiology: Current Trends and Future Prospects

Area of Science:

• Mechanobiology
• Biophysics
• Cellular Mechanics

Background:

• Cellular mechanical properties significantly influence cell behavior and function.
• Stress relaxation and strain stiffening are critical mechanical parameters affecting cell responses.
• A comprehensive understanding of these properties is vital for advancing mechanobiology research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a guide to the diverse toolbox of mechanical characterization techniques.
• To present established and emerging methods for assessing the mechanical properties of cells and substrates.
• To clarify the benefits and interrelationships of various mechanical probing techniques.

Main Methods:

• Review of established and emerging mechanical characterization techniques.
• Analysis of methods for probing mechanical properties of adherent cells.
• Assessment of techniques for characterizing substrate mechanical properties.

Main Results:

• Identification of key mechanical parameters influencing cell behavior.
• Overview of a range of techniques for mechanical characterization.
• Discussion of the advantages and relationships between different methods.

Conclusions:

• Accurate mechanical characterization of cells and substrates is crucial for mechanobiology.
• Understanding the available techniques and their applications is essential for researchers.
• This review serves as a guide to the current landscape of mechanical characterization tools.