A geometric-surface PDE model for cell-nucleus translocation through confinement

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Cell migration through confined environments is vital for biological processes like cancer invasion and tissue morphogenesis.
• The cell nucleus's rigidity often impedes migration through narrow spaces.
• Understanding these mechanics is key to many physiological and pathological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a computational model for cell migration in confined microfluidic environments.
• To investigate the influence of cellular components and environmental geometry on cell translocation efficiency.
• To provide a flexible framework for studying cell mechanics under confinement.

Main Methods:

• Development of a geometric surface partial differential equation (GS-PDE) model.
• Description of cell membranes and nuclear envelope as evolving energetic surfaces.
• Replication of biophysical experiments involving microfluidic devices and controlled pressure gradients.

Main Results:

• The model successfully replicated experimental observations of cell entry into microchannels.
• Parametric sensitivity analysis identified key parameters influencing model accuracy.
• Surface tension and confinement geometry were identified as critical factors determining cell translocation efficiency.

Conclusions:

• The developed GS-PDE model accurately simulates cell migration in microfluidic confinement.
• The findings highlight the significant roles of surface tension and geometric confinement in cell translocation.
• The framework offers a versatile tool for studying cell mechanics and can be extended for active migration studies.