Mechanical properties of hybridoma cells in batch culture

Direct measurements throughout a batch culture of bursting force, bursting membrane tension, elastic area compressibility modulus, and the size of single hybridoma cells have been made by a novel micromanipulation technique. It has been found that the bursting membrane tension and compressibility modulus rise significantly in the rapid growth phase, and fall in the death phase. An approach is suggested for relating these mechanical properties to the shear sensitivity of the cells when they are exposed to shear stresses in flow fields. It is shown that reports of changes in hybridoma fragility during batch cultures, as measured using viscometers, might be explained using more fundamental micromanipulation measurements.