Cell mechanics in an ultrasonic standing wave

Abstract

Diseases like cancer are known to cause functional changes to the cell, which are reflected in structural and material properties of the cell. Looking at cell's response to the exposure to an acoustic field is one way to measure these mechanical properties. In contrast to the dynamic nature of acoustic fields, the mechanical properties of cells are mostly examined in a static configuration, rendering the mechanics of a cell in an acoustic field largely misunderstood. We built multiphysics finite element method models for a prokaryotic (gram-negative bacteria) and a eukaryotic (mammalian) cell in an acoustic standing wave, and we use the models to compute the forces on the two cell types.