Nonlinear indentation of single human erythrocytes under application of a localized mechanical force
Year: 2019
Authors: Tognoni E., Orsini P., Pellegrino M.
Autors Affiliation: CNR, INO, Via Moruzzi 1, I-56124 Pisa, Italy; Univ Pisa, Dipartimento Ric Traslaz & Nuove Tecnol Med & Chi, Via S Zeno 31, I-56127 Pisa, Italy.
Abstract: Despite the accepted notion that erythrocytes are uniquely deformable cells, the apparent Young’s modulus values reported in the literature do not differ so much from those of other cells. We devised to measure the local deformability of living immobilized human erythrocytes at a low force, in contact-free mode, using an application of Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy (SICM) previously developed in our laboratory. Reversible indentations were induced by forces of up to few hundreds pN. The indentation did not grow linearly with the force. The apparent Young’s modulus varied from 0.2 to 1.5 kPa
applying forces from 20 to 500 pN on a cell surface area of about 0.2 μm2, exhibiting a progressive stiffening at increasing force. Control measurements showed that A549 cells exhibit a constant value of the apparent Young’s modulus (about 2 kPa) for forces up to about 800 pN. These findings show that SICM is a suitable tool to investigate cell mechanical properties, when forces in the range of tens of pN are required, in the absence of mechanical contact between probe and sample. The nonlinear deformation of the erythrocyte has to be taken into account in modeling the complex regulation mechanism of
the microvascular beds.
Journal/Review: MICRON
Volume: 127 Pages from: 102760-1 to: 102760-6
KeyWords: human erythrocyte, scanning ion conductance microscopy, Young’s modulus, strain stiffeningDOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2019.102760ImpactFactor: 1.726Citations: 7data from “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) are update at: 2024-12-01References taken from IsiWeb of Knowledge: (subscribers only)Connecting to view paper tab on IsiWeb: Click hereConnecting to view citations from IsiWeb: Click here