Finite element analysis of microelectrotension of cell membranes.
Electric fields can be focused by micropipette-based electrodes to induce stresses on cell membranes leading to tension and poration. To date, however, these membrane stress distributions have not been quantified. In this study, we determine membrane tension, stress, and strain distributions in the vicinity of a microelectrode using finite element analysis of a multiscale electro-mechanical model of pipette, media, membrane, actin cortex, and cytoplasm. Electric field forces are coupled to membranes using the Maxwell stress tensor and membrane electrocompression theory. Results suggest that micropipette electrodes provide a new non-contact method to deliver physiological stresses directly to membranes in a focused and controlled manner, thus providing the quantitative foundation for micreoelectrotension, a new technique for membrane mechanobiology.
Bae
Chilman
C
Department of Bioengineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 205 Hallowell Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA. cub120@psu.edu
Butler
Peter J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003470:Culture Media; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D008839:Microelectrodes; D008954:Models, Biological; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D003470:Culture Media