Monitoring the mass, eigenfrequency, and quality factor of mammalian cells

Sophie Herzog, Gotthold Fläschner (), Ilaria Incaviglia, Javier Casares Arias, Aaron Ponti, Nico Strohmeyer, Michele M. Nava and Daniel J. Müller ()
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Sophie Herzog: Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich
Gotthold Fläschner: Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich
Ilaria Incaviglia: Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich
Javier Casares Arias: Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich
Aaron Ponti: Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich
Nico Strohmeyer: Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich
Michele M. Nava: Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich
Daniel J. Müller: Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract The regulation of mass is essential for the development and homeostasis of cells and multicellular organisms. However, cell mass is also tightly linked to cell mechanical properties, which depend on the time scales at which they are measured and change drastically at the cellular eigenfrequency. So far, it has not been possible to determine cell mass and eigenfrequency together. Here, we introduce microcantilevers oscillating in the Ångström range to monitor both fundamental physical properties of the cell. If the oscillation frequency is far below the cellular eigenfrequency, all cell compartments follow the cantilever motion, and the cell mass measurements are accurate. Yet, if the oscillating frequency approaches or lies above the cellular eigenfrequency, the mechanical response of the cell changes, and not all cellular components can follow the cantilever motions in phase. This energy loss caused by mechanical damping within the cell is described by the quality factor. We use these observations to examine living cells across externally applied mechanical frequency ranges and to measure their total mass, eigenfrequency, and quality factor. The three parameters open the door to better understand the mechanobiology of the cell and stimulate biotechnological and medical innovations.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46056-7

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