Review on Cell Mechanics: Experimental and Modeling Approaches

TLDR

Cell mechanical properties and the forces they generate or experience are crucial for normal function and disease progression, and a range of physical‑science tools has been adapted to study these interactions. This review surveys emerging experimental techniques and computational models in cell mechanics, highlights future research directions, and focuses on micropost experiments and a bio‑chemical‑mechanical model. The authors examine a spectrum of tools—from physical‑science–derived instruments to computational models of biomechanical and biochemical processes—and emphasize micropost assays and a bio‑chemical‑mechanical model. These tools and models have clarified cellular mechanical properties, force dynamics, and mechanotransduction, explained experimental observations, and enabled predictive in‑silico studies.

Abstract

The interplay between the mechanical properties of cells and the forces that they produce internally or that are externally applied to them play an important role in maintaining the normal function of cells. These forces also have a significant effect on the progression of mechanically related diseases. To study the mechanics of cells, a wide variety of tools have been adapted from the physical sciences. These tools have helped to elucidate the mechanical properties of cells, the nature of cellular forces, and mechanoresponses that cells have to external forces, i.e., mechanotransduction. Information gained from these studies has been utilized in computational models that address cell mechanics as a collection of biomechanical and biochemical processes. These models have been advantageous in explaining experimental observations by providing a framework of underlying cellular mechanisms. They have also enabled predictive, in silico studies, which would otherwise be difficult or impossible to perform with current experimental approaches. In this review, we discuss these novel, experimental approaches and accompanying computational models. We also outline future directions to advance the field of cell mechanics. In particular, we devote our attention to the use of microposts for experiments with cells and a bio-chemical-mechanical model for capturing their unique mechanobiological properties.