A Simulation of the Mechanical Testing of the Cell Membrane and Cytoskeleton

Abstract

Cell models play a crucial role in analyzing the mechanical response of cells and quantifying cellular damage incurred during micromanipulation. While traditional models can capture the overall mechanical behavior of cells, they often lack the ability to discern among distinct cellular components. Consequently, by employing dissipative particle dynamics, this study constructed a triangular network-like representation of the cell membrane along with cross-linked cytoskeletal chains. The mechanical properties of both the membrane and cytoskeleton were then analyzed through a series of simulated mechanical tests, validated against real-world experiments. The investigation utilized particle-tracking rheology to monitor changes in the mean square displacements of membrane particles over time, facilitating the analysis of the membrane’s storage and loss moduli. Additionally, the cytoskeletal network’s storage and loss moduli were examined via a double-plate oscillatory shear experiment. The simulation results revealed that both the membrane and cytoskeleton exhibit viscoelastic behavior, as evidenced by the power-law dependency of their storage and loss moduli on frequency. Furthermore, indentation and microinjection simulations were conducted to examine the overall mechanical properties of cells. In the indentation experiments, an increase in the shear modulus of the membrane’s WLCs correlated with a higher Young’s modulus for the entire cell. Regarding the microinjection experiment, augmenting the microinjection speed resulted in reduced deformation of the cell at the point of membrane rupture and a lower percentage of high strain.