Regensburg 2022 – scientific programme

Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help

BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 12: Poster 2

BP 12.3: Poster

Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 17:30–19:30, P4

Cell migration dynamics and nuclear deformation in three-dimensional micro-dumbbells — •Stefan Stöberl¹, Johannes Flommersfeld², Maximilian M. Kreft¹, Chase P. Broedersz², and Joachim O. Rädler¹ — ¹Faculty of Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany — ²Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Cell migration plays a key role in physiological processes such as wound healing, cancer metastasis and immune response. In previous work we have studied the non-linear dynamics of single cells migrating between two surface-patterned adhesion sites guided by a bridging line.

Here we study the dynamics of MDA-MB-231 cells captured in three-dimensional (3D)-dumbbell-like microcavities. The structures formed by photolithography of PEG-norbonene hydrogels provide a soft and hence deformable frame, while cells attach and migrate on a fibronectin coated bottom. In our experiments we find that the dwell-time of cells before transitioning is retarded when the width of the dumbbell-constriction is narrowed below 8 m. We are hypothesizing that the observed deformation of the nucleus, which is the biggest organelle in the cell, determines the time course of the repeated stochastic transitions. To study the external and internal forces involved we measure the displacement field of beads embedded in the vicinity of the 3D constriction.