Nonlinear elastic and viscoelastic deformation of the human red blood cell with optical tweezers.

摘要: Studies of the deformation characteristics single biological cells can offer insights into connections among mechanical state, biochemical response and onset progression diseases. Deformation imposed by optical tweezers provides a useful means for study cell mechanics under variety well-controlled stress-states. In this paper, we first critically review recent advances in employing method, assess its significance limitations comparison to other experimental tools. We then present new computational results on shape evolution, force-extension curves, elastic properties viscoelastic human red blood subjected large using tweezers. Potential applications methods examined here diseased are also briefly addressed.