Cellular Stiffness and Deformability

Cellular stiffness and deformability are crucial biophysical properties that play a significant role in various physiological processes and are implicated in numerous diseases. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of cellular stiffness and deformability analysis, starting with a historical perspective on the field and highlighting the importance of cellular mechanics in health and disease. We discuss the mechanisms that regulate cellular stiffness and deformability, including cytoskeletal components, cell adhesion, and extracellular matrix interactions. A significant portion of the chapter is dedicated to reviewing various techniques employed to measure these properties, ranging from traditional methods like micropipette aspiration and atomic force microscopy to more advanced techniques such as optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers, and microfluidic devices. We delve into the specific applications of microfluidic techniques in cellular biomechanics, emphasising their advantages in high-throughput and single-cell analysis. Finally, the chapter explores emerging technologies and computational approaches, including the application of machine learning, for analysing and interpreting cellular mechanics data, offering a glimpse into the future of this dynamic field.