Shear wave elasticity imaging for studying mechanical interactions of cells

Abstract

The development, functions, and dysregulation of biological systems, including cells, tissues, and organs, are highly affected by the surrounding mechanical properties. The biological systems sense and transduce mechanical cues, and respond to them both internally and externally. The spatial and temporal scale, as well as the strength of the mechanical cues may lead to different responses. Hence, quantifying the mechanical properties of the biological system is essential for the study of cell biology, and the development of therapeutic strategies for diseases. Over the past few decades, elastography has become a widely adopted modality for both preclinical and clinical imaging of elasticity of biological systems. Here we present the principle techniques taken in elastography for both in vitro and in vivo measurements of mechanical properties. We further examine the combination of ultrasound elasticity imaging with optical imaging for providing high-resolution elastography. A discussion on the advantages and limitations of the imaging modality is also presented.