A micromanipulation technique with a theoretical cell model for determining mechanical properties of single mammalian cells

a micromanipulation technique has been developed to squeeze single mammalian cells between two parallel surfaces, and to measure simultaneously the force being imposed on a cell and its deformation. The quantitative relationship between the force and the distance between the surfaces, given directly by the technique, has been modelled so that the bursting membrane tension, bursting pressure and the elastic area compressibility modulus of the cells can be obtained. The tension and compressibility modulus are shown to be essentially independent of cell size for cells from a continuous culture. This test might be used to predict damage to cells in processing equipment and to optimize culture conditions.