Computer simulations of the mechanical response of brushes on the surface of cancerous epithelial cells

Scientific Reports
A Gama Goicochea, S J Alas Guardado

Abstract

We report a model for atomic force microscopy by means of computer simulations of molecular brushes on surfaces of biological interest such as normal and cancerous cervical epithelial cells. Our model predicts that the force needed to produce a given indentation on brushes that can move on the surface of the cell (called "liquid" brushes) is the same as that required for brushes whose ends are fixed on the cell's surface (called "solid" brushes), as long as the tip of the microscope covers the entire area of the brush. Additionally, we find that cancerous cells are softer than normal ones, in agreement with various experiments. Moreover, soft brushes are found to display larger resistance to compression than stiff ones. This phenomenon is the consequence of the larger equilibrium length of the soft brushes and the cooperative association of solvent molecules trapped within the brushes, which leads to an increase in the osmotic pressure. Our results show that a careful characterization of the brushes on epithelial cells is indispensable when determining the mechanical response of cancerous cells.

References

Mar 15, 2003·Physiological Measurement·D C WalkerR H Smallwood
Aug 2, 2005·Cancer Science·Daisuke YamazakiTadaomi Takenawa
Jul 26, 2008·Nature Nanotechnology·Sarah E CrossJames K Gimzewski
Jul 29, 2008·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·Q S LiC T Lim
Mar 13, 2009·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Teemu MurtolaMikko Karttunen
Apr 2, 2009·The Journal of Chemical Physics·Tzu-Yu WangHeng-Kwong Tsao
Jan 23, 2010·Nature Materials·Martien A Cohen StuartSergiy Minko
Jun 15, 2011·Trends in Cell Biology·Daniel J Müller, Yves F Dufrêne
Jan 3, 2012·Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics·Małgorzata LekkaPiotr Laidler
Apr 6, 2012·PloS One·Thorsten M KochBen Fabry
Jul 5, 2012·Cancer Research·Renaud PrudentLaurence Lafanechère
Oct 23, 2012·Nature Nanotechnology·Marija PlodinecCora-Ann Schoenenberger
Nov 8, 2012·Nature Nanotechnology·Małgorzata Lekka
Jan 16, 2013·Nature·Erika Jonietz
Oct 15, 2014·The Journal of Cell Biology·Christoph KlingnerRoland Wedlich-Soldner

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 14, 2018·Nanomaterials·Ketzasmin A Terrón-MejíaArmando Gama Goicochea

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
atomic force microscopy
AFM

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Nature Nanotechnology
Sarah E CrossJames K Gimzewski
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
Aaron Wynveen, Christos N Likos
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
Manjesh K SinghNicholas D Spencer
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved