Determination of Material Properties of Cellular Structures Using Time Series of Microscopic Images and Numerical Model of Cell Mechanics

Abstract

Determination of material constants is indispensable for quantitative description of mechanical properties of cellular structures. Since conventional methods of experimental cell mechanics are based on application of forces onto the cell boundary, intra-cellular structures are not accessible for direct measurements. In this work, we present an approach for estimation of canonic material constants (i.e. stiffness and compressibility) using times series of microscopic images and numerical model of cell mechanics. The proposed method is based on optical monitoring of the cellular deformation which can be triggered by any appropriate contacting or noncontacting technique affecting mechanical cell integrity. The presented experimental studies give examples of determination of material parameters of optically monitored cells whose deformation was induced by conventional micromanipulation and completely contact-free, using chemical agents.