Analysis of nonlinear responses of adherent epithelial cells probed by magnetic bead twisting: A finite element model based on a homogenization approach

An original homogenization method was used to analyze the nonlinear elastic properties of epithelial cells probed by magnetic twisting cytometry. In this approach, the apparent rigidity of a cell with nonlinear mechanical properties is deduced from the mechanical response of the entire population of adherent cells. The proposed hyperelastic cell model successfully accounts for the variability in probe-cell geometrical features, and the influence of the cell-substrate adhesion. Spatially distributed local secant elastic moduli had amplitudes ranging from 10 to 400 Pa. The nonlinear elastic behavior of cells may contribute to the wide differences in published results regarding cell elasticity moduli.