Date of Publication

2-18-2020

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Physics

Subject Categories

Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics

College

College of Science

Department/Unit

Physics

Thesis Adviser

Romeric F. Pobre

Defense Panel Chair

Christopher Que

Defense Panel Member

Esperanza C. Cabrera
Andrew Raphael Bañas

Abstract/Summary

Mechanical properties of cells, such as elasticity, adhesiveness, and viscosity, is of great interest because it is a promising label-free biomarker that indicates underlying cytoskeletal or nuclear changes. However, existing methods of measuring mechanical properties utilize pointed cantilever that damages the cells, requires dry sample preparation that does not mimic the cell environment, and involves a many-cell experiment that may lead to unreliable measurements. Here, we used microfluidicassisted optical trapping to determine the cell membrane elasticity of the human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1). The 980 nm laser at 100 mW trapped the 2 µm fused silica bead to indent the THP-1 monocytes (~10 μm) at room temperature. We treated the cells with Zeocin, a chemotherapeutic drug, as a positive control group known to upregulate cfos and cjun genes of which are markers for early apoptosis cascading cytoskeletal effects through actin filament reorganization. Results showed that untreated THP-1 cells are more elastic compared to zeocin-treated control. This suggests that THP-1 cells undergoing apoptosis are highly deformable compared to the untreated ones. Thus, the membrane elasticity measurement of cancer cells using microfluidic-assisted optical trapping provides an evaluation of treatment that activates apoptosis.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Physical Description

xiv, 112 leaves

Keywords

Cells—Mechanical properties; Microfluidics; Cell membranes

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Embargo Period

5-27-2022

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