A New Method Used to Evaluate the Mechanical Properties of Living Cells

• Main Authors: Wei-Nien Chen, 陳韋年
• Other Authors: Jen-Fin Lin
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/04904593752176759113

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 機械工程學系碩博士班 === 95 === There are many models and analytical methods have been developed in the world to study all kinds of property of the cells at present, but they are still have improved space. The theme of this research is using a new analytical method that different from the past to receive the vertical distribution of mechanical properties in cells. In the past, the mechanical properties were expressed only used a value or a range; however, cells are not homogeneous material exactly. This value or range is actually the mixed result of the mechanical properties of all structure. In this research, the PC12 cell was divided into three layers: cytoskeleton, cytoplasm and nucleus; the mechanical properties and the interaction of every layer within cells were obtained by experiments and analysis. The experiment part is that using AFM scanned surface of cell and perform several force-curves in different selected zones to obtain the loading and unloading data of cell. The analysis part is by bringing the experimental data into the load-depth and unload-depth equation, respectively. The values of mechanical properties can be solved simultaneously by combination of two equations. This method gives the advantage that the contact area is not necessary to evaluate since the contact area is not used. On the other hand, in order to get the transition of the PC12 mechanical properties in vertical direction under different structures within cell. For example: cytoskeleton → cytoplasm or nucleus, cytoskeleton → cytoplasm → nucleus. These transitions can be simulated completely by using exponential function and one or two weight factors. After experiments and analysis, the mechanical properties and the inside transition of three layers have been obtained. Comparing our mechanical properties with those reported by the references, not only prove our proposed analysis is reasonable, but also concretely explain that the mechanical properties possibly change in the different depth and position.