Mechanical Properties of Endothelial Cells: A Key to Physiology, Drug Testing and Nanostructure Interaction

This article explores the application of atomic force spectroscopy in in vitro studies of endothelial cells. In this technique, derived from the atomic force microscopy, the AFM probe is employed as a nanoindenter. This review aims to discuss the nanomechanical properties of endothelial cells alongside selected biological parameters used to determine their physiological state. Changes in cellular elasticity are analyzed in the context of an intracellular mechanism involving nitric oxide, prostacyclin, calcium ions and reactive oxygen species levels. The manuscript compiles various articles on endothelial cells, assessing the impact of different agents such as drugs, cytokines and nanostructures. The review article addresses the endothelial dysfunction model, which is based on alteration in the mechanical properties of the cells, and explains how this model is used for potential drug testing. The next part of the study evaluates the toxic effects of nanostructures on endothelial cells. Additionally, the article addresses the finite element method, a promising new approach for modeling and simulating the behavior of cells treated as a multi-layered structure.