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Application of sequential cyclic compression on cancer cells in a flexible microdevice
Sevgi Onal1,2, Maan M Alkaisi1,2, Volker Nock1,2,3
1Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Plos One
|January 5, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a microfluidic platform for cyclic compression of SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells. The device reveals how cells deform under pressure and recover, offering insights into cancer cell mechanics.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Mechanical forces significantly influence cell structure and function.
- Understanding cellular responses to mechanical compression is vital for studying tissue microenvironments.
- The impact of repetitive compression on cell deformation requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate a microfluidic compression platform for applying cyclic compression to live cells.
- To investigate the actin cytoskeleton dynamics and recovery of SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells under varying physiological compression pressures.
- To analyze morphological, cytoskeletal, and nuclear changes in response to mechanical stress and subsequent recovery.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a microfluidic compression platform to apply sequential cyclic compression to SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells.
- Performed live imaging of actin cytoskeleton dynamics during compression at pressures up to 20.8 kPa.
- Conducted endpoint assays to assess cell recovery, examining actin cytoskeleton and nuclei profiles at 0 and 24 hours post-compression.
Main Results:
- Observed distinct phenotypic responses in SKOV-3 cells recovering from compression at 15.6 kPa versus 20.8 kPa.
- Demonstrated the platform's capability to differentiate cell behavior under varying physiological compression levels.
- Identified differences between cells fixed immediately after compression and those allowed to recover, suggesting immediate deformation as a protective mechanism.
Conclusions:
- The microfluidic platform effectively reveals biomechanical responses of cancer cells to cyclic compression and recovery.
- SKOV-3 cells exhibit immediate deformations under compression to prevent mechanical damage.
- This technology provides insights into cancer cell mechanics through controlled micro-scale compression and live-cell imaging.
