Finite Element Modelling of Single Cell Based on Atomic Force Microscope Indentation Method

The stiffness of cells, especially cancer cells, is a key mechanical property that is closely associated with their biomechanical functions, such as the mechanotransduction and the metastasis mechanisms of cancer cells. In light of the low survival rate of single cells and measurement uncertainty, the finite element method (FEM) was used to quantify the deformations and predict the stiffness of single cells. To study the effect of the cell components on overall stiffness, two new FEM models were proposed based on the atomic force microscopy (AFM) indentation method. The geometric sizes of the FEM models were determined by AFM topography images, and the validity of the FEM models was verified by comparison with experimental data. The effect of the intermediate filaments (IFs) and material properties of the cellular continuum components on the overall stiffness were investigated. The experimental results showed that the stiffness of cancer cells has apparent positional differences. The FEM simulation results show that IFs contribute only slightly to the overall stiffness within 10% strain, although they can transfer forces directly from the membrane to the nucleus. The cytoskeleton (CSK) is the major mechanical component of a cell. Furthermore, parameter studies revealed that the material properties (thickness and elasticity) of the continuum have a significant influence on the overall cellular stiffness while Poisson’s ratio has less of an influence on the overall cellular stiffness. The proposed FEM models can determine the contribution of the major components of the cells to the overall cellular stiffness and provide insights for understanding the response of cells to the external mechanical stimuli and studying the corresponding mechanical mechanisms and cell biomechanics.