title: Mechanical phenotyping of stem cells.
abstract: Elasticity and visco-elasticity are mechanical properties of cells which directly reflect cellular composition, internal structure (cytoskeleton), and external interactions (cell-cell and/or cell-surface). A variety of techniques involving probing, pulling, or deforming cells have been used to characterize these mechanical properties. With continuing advances in the technology, it may be possible to establish mechanical phenotypes that can be used to identify cells at specific points of differentiation and dedifferentiation with direct applications to regenerative medicine, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. ckeefer@umd.edu
authors.forename: Carol L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Keefer
authors.forename: Jaydev P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Desai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004548:Elasticity; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*