狭窄微流控通道中细胞挤压力生物学分析

Mechanobiological Analysis of Cellular Compression in Narrow Microfluidic Channels

  • 摘要: 循环肿瘤细胞在微循环中经历的挤压应力是影响其转移潜能的关键力学因素。本文旨在探究挤压应力强度与持续时间对细胞活性的独立调控作用,参考MCF-7细胞系的典型直径,设计具有不同宽度(9 µm、12 µm和15 µm)和长度(100 µm和500 µm)的微流控通道,构建了体外力学刺激平台,以模拟毛细血管环境并对上述两个力学参数进行解耦。利用高速显微成像技术记录了MCF-7细胞通过微通道的动态过程与时间,并采用荧光染色与图像分析法定量评估了细胞经受不同力学刺激后的增殖能力与粘附能力。结果表明,细胞通过微通道的时间主要由通道长度决定,而通道宽度的减小会增大细胞通行速度的离散性。在细胞活性方面,短时间(约3 ms)挤压刺激下,细胞增殖能力随应力强度增加而减弱;而长时间(约15 ms)挤压刺激则使其呈现先增强后减弱的趋势。此外,挤压应力显著抑制了细胞粘附能力,且长时间刺激的效应更为明显。本研究为解析应力刺激强度与时间对细胞命运的调控提供了支撑,为深入理解循环肿瘤细胞的转移机制提供了实验依据。

     

    Abstract: The compressive stress experienced by circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the microcirculation is a key mechanical factor affecting their metastatic potential. This study aims to investigate the independent regulatory effects of compressive stress intensity and duration on cell viability. Referring to the typical diameter of the MCF-7 cell line, microfluidic channels with different widths (9 µm, 12 µm, 15 µm) and lengths (100 µm, 500 µm) were designed to construct an in vitro mechanical stimulation platform, simulating the capillary environment and decoupling the two mechanical parameters. The dynamic process and transit time of MCF-7 cells passing through the microchannels were recorded using high-speed microimaging technology. Fluorescence staining and image analysis were employed to quantitatively evaluate the proliferation and adhesion capabilities of cells after different mechanical stimulations. Results show that the cell transit time is primarily determined by the channel length, while a decrease in channel width increases the dispersion of transit velocities. Regarding cell viability, under short-duration compressive stimulation (approx. 3 ms), cell proliferation ability decreased with increasing stress intensity; whereas under long-duration stimulation (approx. 15 ms), it showed a trend of first enhancing and then weakening. Furthermore, compressive stress significantly inhibited cell adhesion ability, and the effect was more pronounced with prolonged stimulation. This study provides support for deciphering the regulation of cell fate by stress stimulation intensity and time, offering experimental evidence for a deeper understanding of the metastasis mechanism of circulating tumor cells.

     

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