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Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

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In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue.
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...

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Near Simultaneous Laser Scanning Confocal and Atomic Force Microscopy Conpokal on Live Cells

Near Simultaneous Laser Scanning Confocal and Atomic Force Microscopy Conpokal on Live Cells

Published on: August 11, 2020

Active viscoelastic models for cell and tissue mechanics.

Bahareh Tajvidi Safa¹, Changjin Huang², Alexandre Kabla³

¹Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA.

Royal Society Open Science

|April 25, 2024

Summary

Living cells are active materials that generate forces influencing their behavior and disease. This review explores models that incorporate these active cellular characteristics to understand mechanical responses.

Keywords:

active model cell mechanics cell modeling tissue mechanics viscoelasticity

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Area of Science:

Mechanobiology
Biophysics
Cellular Mechanics

Background:

Living cells function as active materials, generating forces transmitted through the cytoskeleton and extracellular environment.
These forces are crucial for cellular mechanical behavior, mechanosensing, and adaptation to microenvironmental cues.
Dysregulation of cellular mechanical forces can impact disease progression.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advancements in modeling cells as active materials.
To highlight methods for incorporating active cellular characteristics into viscoelastic models.
To explore the application of these models in understanding cellular adaptation to mechanical stimuli.

Main Methods:

Reviewing experimental and theoretical approaches to study cells as active materials.
Summarizing modifications to classic viscoelastic models by adding active tension or adjusting elastic elements.
Analyzing the formulation and application of these active viscoelastic models.

Main Results:

Active cellular characteristics can be incorporated into viscoelastic models through active tension or altered resting lengths.
These enhanced models provide insights into cellular adaptation mechanisms.
The models help elucidate the effects of extracellular matrix properties and external mechanical stimuli.

Conclusions:

Modeling cells as active materials is crucial for understanding their mechanical behavior and adaptation.
Advanced viscoelastic models incorporating active force generation offer powerful tools for mechanobiology research.
This approach aids in deciphering cellular responses to diverse mechanical environments and their implications in disease.