Shell theory-based estimation of local elastic characteristics of biological cells

Abstract

The shell theory-based approach for the elastic analysis of biological cells is proposed. This approach introduces the estimation of the local Young’smodulus of the single cell on the basis of the shell theory and data of the atomic forcemicroscopy (AFM). This method is applicable to evaluate the elastic properties of the cell membrane which stretched under action of the atomic force microscope indenter (AFMI). The cell is represented by a thin shallowspherical shell experiencing the concentrated outward force. The influence of cytoskeleton on the cell deformation is disregarded. Taking into account microscopic sizes of the cell and the indenter tip, the internal nanoscale parameter is introduced into the constitutive equations. On the basis of the experimental data and developed shell model we give a rough estimate of local Young’s modulus for the red blood cell.