Monitoring the mass, eigenfrequency, and quality factor of mammalian cells
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Date
2024
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Abstract
The regulation of mass is essential for the development and homeostasis of cells and multicellular organisms. However, cell mass is also tightly linked to cell mechanical properties, which depend on the time scales at which they are measured and change drastically at the cellular eigenfrequency. So far, it has not been possible to determine cell mass and eigenfrequency together. Here, we introduce microcantilevers oscillating in the Ångström range to monitor both fundamental physical properties of the cell. If the oscillation frequency is far below the cellular eigenfrequency, all cell compartments follow the cantilever motion, and the cell mass measurements are accurate. Yet, if the oscillating frequency approaches or lies above the cellular eigenfrequency, the mechanical response of the cell changes, and not all cellular components can follow the cantilever motions in phase. This energy loss caused by mechanical damping within the cell is described by the quality factor. We use these observations to examine living cells across externally applied mechanical frequency ranges and to measure their total mass, eigenfrequency, and quality factor. The three parameters open the door to better understand the mechanobiology of the cell and stimulate biotechnological and medical innovations.
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published
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Journal / series
Volume
15 (1)
Pages / Article No.
1751
Publisher
Nature
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Date created
Subject
Biological physics; Biomaterials – cells; Cytoskeleton; Nanoscale biophysics
Organisational unit
03870 - Müller, Daniel J. / Müller, Daniel J.
Notes
Funding
182587 - Characterizing the cell cycle dependent regulation of adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins (SNF)
Related publications and datasets
Is supplemented by: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000654725