Narrow-Gap Rheometry: A Novel Method for Measuring Cell Mechanics

Abstract

The viscoelastic properties of a cell cytoskeleton contain abundant information about the state of a cell. Cells show a response to a specific environment or an administered drug through changes in their viscoelastic properties. Studies of single cells have shown that chemical agents that interact with the cytoskeleton can alter mechanical cell properties and suppress mitosis. This envisions using rheological measurements as a non-specific tool for drug development, the pharmacological screening of new drug agents, and to optimize dosage. Although there exists a number of sophisticated methods for studying mechanical properties of single cells, studying concentration dependencies is difficult and cumbersome with these methods: large cell-to-cell variations demand high repetition rates to obtain statistically significant data. Furthermore, method-induced changes in the cell mechanics cannot be excluded when working in a nonlinear viscoelastic range. To address these issues, we not only compared narrow-gap rheometry with commonly used single cell techniques, such as atomic force microscopy and microfluidic-based approaches, but we also compared existing cell monolayer studies used to estimate cell mechanical properties. This review provides insight for whether and how narrow-gap rheometer could be used as an efficient drug screening tool, which could further improve our current understanding of the mechanical issues present in the treatment of human diseases.

Atomic Force Microscopy for the Study of Cell Mechanics in Pharmaceutics

“…A more macroscopic alternative is using a parallel plate rheometer, some of which can measure cell monolayers to observe the total rheology of an entire cell culture [ 120 ].…”

Simultaneous dual-wavelength digital holographic microscopy as a tool for the analysis of keratoacanthoma skin samples

“…Compared to other methodologies published elsewhere, viz. [28,29] our research proposal is clearer and easier to implement, making it suitable for the characterization of some features of the keratinocytes. This work's major significance rests in its contribution to the 3D microscopic study of a KA skin cell sample fixed on a coverslip, as well as in a further understanding of its associated pathologies.…”

Measuring the linear viscoelastic regime of MCF-7 cells with a monolayer rheometer in the presence of microtubule-active anti-cancer drugs at high concentrations

“…These devices typically work in the nonlinear viscoelastic range. Apart from microfluidic devices, cell monolayer rheometry allows studying a large number of cells in single experimental runs [13][14][15]. Adhering cells in a monolayer between parallel rheometer discs allows applying wellestablished rheological standard procedures to cell rheology.…”