Modeling and Experiments in Cell and Biomolecular Mechanics

With recent advances in cell and molecular biology, biomechanics and bioengineering, many researchers in the mechanics and materials field are performing experimental and modeling studies of cell and biomolecular mechanics. The behavior of cells and tissues as complex biological systems is a result of integrated and regulated interactions among many components such as cell cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix (ECM), signal transduction pathways, intracellular secretion/transport, and gene expression. Mechanical forces and deformations may play an important role in all these aspects, and in regulating cell behavior and function. To understand these important issues, extensive studies have been performed to develop new experimental and modeling approaches, including multi-scale modeling, optical and magnetic tweezers, AFM, micropipette, and MEMS/NEMS devices for single cell and single molecule mechanics testing. These recent advances have stimulated, and benefited from, the development of engineered materials for biological applications. This special issue of Experimental Mechanics on Modeling and Experiments in Cell and Biomolecular Mechanics will illustrate some of the recent developments in cell and biomolecular mechanics, aiming to stimulate further development of this exciting field. In this special issue, we have assembled a number of recent studies in the field of mechanics of living cells and biomolecules, ranging from detailed hierarchical atomistic simulations of proteins to multiscale computational models for mechanics of encapsulated cells. Several review articles are also included which highlight the state of the art in this area. A brief overview of each article published in this special issue is given below. In “Quantifying forces mediated by integral tight junction proteins in cell–cell adhesion,” Vedula et al. studied cellular adhesion by measuring the force needed to separate two cells using the dual micropipette assay. This work provides insight into the biomolecular mechanisms of cell adhesion and the effect of various treatments on forces required for cell separation. In “Dissecting the molecular basis of the mechanics of living cells,” Kumar and LeDuc provided a thorough review of technologies that have recently emerged for measuring the structural and functional contributions of subcellular components. The implications of these techniques in deciphering molecular basis of cell structure and mechanics are also highlighted in this review article. In “Changes in intracellular calcium during compression of C2C12 myotubes,” Ceelen et al. investigated the changes to the Ca-influx in cells under compression and its correlation with cell behavior and death. This study has implications in understanding the underlying mechanisms of tissue damage at the cellular level. In “Numerical simulation of nanoindentation and patch clamp experiments on mechanosensitive channels of large conductance in Escherichia coli,” Tang et al. provided a multiscale numerical framework for simulating the response of a mechanosensitive channel of large conductance in E. Experimental Mechanics (2009) 49:1–2 DOI 10.1007/s11340-008-9219-0