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Monitoring the mass, eigenfrequency, and quality factor of mammalian cells

Author

Listed:
  • Sophie Herzog

    (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich)

  • Gotthold Fläschner

    (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich
    Nanosurf AG)

  • Ilaria Incaviglia

    (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich)

  • Javier Casares Arias

    (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich)

  • Aaron Ponti

    (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich)

  • Nico Strohmeyer

    (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich)

  • Michele M. Nava

    (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich)

  • Daniel J. Müller

    (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich)

Abstract

The regulation of mass is essential for the development and homeostasis of cells and multicellular organisms. However, cell mass is also tightly linked to cell mechanical properties, which depend on the time scales at which they are measured and change drastically at the cellular eigenfrequency. So far, it has not been possible to determine cell mass and eigenfrequency together. Here, we introduce microcantilevers oscillating in the Ångström range to monitor both fundamental physical properties of the cell. If the oscillation frequency is far below the cellular eigenfrequency, all cell compartments follow the cantilever motion, and the cell mass measurements are accurate. Yet, if the oscillating frequency approaches or lies above the cellular eigenfrequency, the mechanical response of the cell changes, and not all cellular components can follow the cantilever motions in phase. This energy loss caused by mechanical damping within the cell is described by the quality factor. We use these observations to examine living cells across externally applied mechanical frequency ranges and to measure their total mass, eigenfrequency, and quality factor. The three parameters open the door to better understand the mechanobiology of the cell and stimulate biotechnological and medical innovations.

Suggested Citation

  • Sophie Herzog & Gotthold Fläschner & Ilaria Incaviglia & Javier Casares Arias & Aaron Ponti & Nico Strohmeyer & Michele M. Nava & Daniel J. Müller, 2024. "Monitoring the mass, eigenfrequency, and quality factor of mammalian cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-46056-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46056-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Martin P. Stewart & Jonne Helenius & Yusuke Toyoda & Subramanian P. Ramanathan & Daniel J. Muller & Anthony A. Hyman, 2011. "Hydrostatic pressure and the actomyosin cortex drive mitotic cell rounding," Nature, Nature, vol. 469(7329), pages 226-230, January.
    2. Maximilian Huber & Javier Casares-Arias & Reinhard Fässler & Daniel J. Müller & Nico Strohmeyer, 2023. "In mitosis integrins reduce adhesion to extracellular matrix and strengthen adhesion to adjacent cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Andreas P. Cuny & K. Tanuj Sapra & David Martinez-Martin & Gotthold Fläschner & Jonathan D. Adams & Sascha Martin & Christoph Gerber & Fabian Rudolf & Daniel J. Müller, 2022. "High-resolution mass measurements of single budding yeast reveal linear growth segments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. David Martínez-Martín & Gotthold Fläschner & Benjamin Gaub & Sascha Martin & Richard Newton & Corina Beerli & Jason Mercer & Christoph Gerber & Daniel J. Müller, 2017. "Inertial picobalance reveals fast mass fluctuations in mammalian cells," Nature, Nature, vol. 550(7677), pages 500-505, October.
    5. Gotthold Fläschner & Cosmin I. Roman & Nico Strohmeyer & David Martinez-Martin & Daniel J. Müller, 2021. "Rheology of rounded mammalian cells over continuous high-frequencies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
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