A cell mechanical study on adherent and suspended pancreatic cancer cells using AFM and microfluidics [Elektronische Ressource] / put forward by Nadine Walter

Dissertationsubmitted to theCombined Faculties for Natural Science and Mathematicsof the Ruperto-Carola University of Heidelberg, Germanyfor the degree ofDoctor of Natural SciencesPut forward byDiplom-Physikerin: Nadine WalterBorn in: RodewischOral examination: 05.02.2010A Cell Mechanical Study onAdherent and Suspended Pancreatic Cancer Cellsusing AFM and MicrofluidicsReferees: Prof. Dr. Joachim SpatzProf. Dr. Heinz HornerA Cell Mechanical Study on Adherent and Suspended Pancreatic Cancer Cells using AFMand MicrofluidicsCell mechanical responses are important in the context of physiologically relevant deformationsand stresses that cells have to sustain inside the body. The cell material response to quasistaticand localized deformations, similar to those during active cell migration, is studied in the firstpart of this thesis. Living adherent pancreatic cells and their extracted subcellular keratin net-work were probed using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) indentation testing in order to de-termine if there is a significant mechanical contribution of the keratin network to living cellmechanics. It was found that the extracted keratin network elastic modulus was only 2 to 5% ofthe living cell elastic modulus. No correlation of elastic moduli and keratin mesh densities wasdetected for living cells, whereas a huge cell-to-cell variation in the elastic moduli was present.