Evaluation of Cell Mechanical Properties
In modern biomedical research, the assessment of cellular mechanical properties is an important part of revealing cellular functions and behaviors. CD BioSciences utilizes cutting-edge biophysical technologies to provide accurate cellular mechanical property assessment services. Our services cover the assessment of cell stiffness, elasticity, deformability, adhesion, and internal stress to provide comprehensive support for your research.
Background
In the field of cell biology, the study of cellular mechanical properties provides an important perspective to unravel cellular functions and their behavior in organisms. Mechanical properties of cells, such as stiffness, elasticity, and adhesion, not only affect the normal physiological functions of cells but also play key roles in disease onset and progression as well as drug action. With the development of biotechnology, precise measurement and analysis of cell mechanical properties have become one of the core tasks of modern biomedical research.
While traditional approaches to cellular research usually focus on the biochemical and molecular characteristics of cells, biophysical techniques provide a new perspective that reveals the mechanical behavior of cells by quantifying their physical properties. These data not only contribute to an in-depth understanding of how cells respond to a variety of physiological and pathological environments but also provide valuable information for drug development and disease treatment.
Figure 1. Summary of the most relevant techniques for cell mechanical characterization. (Basoli F, et al., 2018)
What Services Do We Offer?
- Cell Stiffness and Elasticity Measurement
Our team of experts uses atomic force microscopy (AFM) technology to accurately measure the stiffness and elasticity of cells. This technique is essential for studying changes in the mechanical properties of cells in different physiological and pathological states.
- Cell Deformation and Stress Analysis
Through optical deformation techniques, we can assess the deformability and stress distribution of cells under physical stress. Based on this, we can further study the migration and strain response of cells and their adaptability in various environments.
We offer cell adhesion force microscopy (CAF-M) technology to measure the adhesion force between cells and matrix or other cells, which helps to understand cell-cell interactions and their potential for application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
- Intracellular Stress Analysis
Our platform combines high-resolution imaging and mechanical analysis techniques to help us assess the stress distribution inside cells. This analysis is essential for studying the stress response of cells under different conditions and its impact on biological processes.
Our Strengths
- Advanced equipment. Our platform is equipped with advanced biophysical analysis instruments to ensure the accuracy and reliability of data.
- Specialized team. Our team consists of top biophysicists in the field, providing professional technical support and consulting services.
- Customized solutions. We will develop a service process according to the specific needs of our customers to ensure the smooth progress of the project.
Application of Cellular Mechanical Properties
The mechanical properties of cells are recognized as a potential label-free biomarker for the separation of plasma cells from heterogeneous populations, a step that is an important part of subsequent disease diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
When cells change their function or undergo physiological alterations, the reconstruction of the cytoskeleton leads to changes in the intrinsic properties of the cell. Therefore, some cellular physical properties such as the nucleoplasmic ratio and the shape of the nuclear membrane are considered important biomarkers for identifying and staging malignant tumors.
Measuring the mechanical properties of cells of the immune system, including lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes, is an effective way to analyze immune status. When the immune system is activated, the mechanical properties of lymphocytes with relatively large nuclei, such as B-cells, T-cells, and natural killer cells, have been found to change.
A common approach to treating cancer or other diseases is nowadays to alter the mechanical properties of the cytoskeleton and nucleus and the subsequent cellular behavior through the use of selective drugs. If the cells are sensitive to the drug, the cells will exhibit significantly different mechanical properties upon pretreatment and post-treatment. Measuring mechanical properties at the single-cell level can therefore also advance our understanding of disease pathology processes, allowing screening for drug sensitivity and discovery of new drugs.
CD BioSciences strives to apply cutting-edge biophysical technologies to the assessment of cellular mechanical properties. With our rich experience and advanced equipment, we provide comprehensive and accurate measurement services to help researchers solve practical research challenges. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
Reference
- Basoli F, Giannitelli S M, Gori M, et al. (2018). Biomechanical characterization at the cell scale: present and prospects[J]. Frontiers in physiology. 9: 1449.
For research use only, not
intended for any clinical use.
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