"Version: 202108"--Title page verso.

Includes bibliographical references.

1. Introduction to cell and matrix mechanics and experimental techniques -- 1.1. Introduction to cell migration and invasion -- 1.2. The effect of heterogeneity of cells and their microenvironments -- 1.3. Cell protuberances change the microenvironment during migration and invasion -- 1.4. Traditional migration and invasion assays with adjustable matrix structure and mechanics -- 1.5. Changing cell mechanics to control cell migration and invasion -- 1.6. Mechanotransduction leads to cell differentiation and governs cell functions -- 1.7. Future directions of cell mechanics driving cell motility

2. 2D and 3D migration and invasion in pure and composite matrices -- 2.1. 2D migration assays -- 2.2. 2D collective migration and mechanical waves -- 2.3. 3D invasion assays with tunable structural and structure-based mechanical environmental cues -- 2.4. Composite gels of alginate and Matrigels -- 2.5. Composite gels of Matrigel and collagen -- 2.6. Matrigel increases the pore size and heterogeneity of the meshwork -- 2.7. Advantages and disadvantages of cell migration and invasion assays -- 2.8. Future focus of single-cell migration and invasion

3. Mechano-invasion assays : mechanical excitation enhances cell migration and invasion -- 3.1. Introduction to the mechanical excitation of cells -- 3.2. Mechano-invasion assays -- 3.3. Cyclic mechanical strain -- 3.4. Indirect effect of myosin contractility on cancer cells -- 3.5. Directional motility is based on mechanical cues -- 3.6. Compressive stress on cancer cells -- 3.7. How can cells sense mechanical cues? -- 3.8. Discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of mechano-invasion assays -- 3.9. The future directions of mechano-invasion approaches

4. Atomic force microscopy probing for cell, nucleus and matrix mechanics -- 4.1. Introduction to atomic force microscopy -- 4.2. Analysis of cell stiffness -- 4.3. What are the optimal settings for the investigation of cell mechanics employing AFM? -- 4.4. Calibration for force measurement using AFM -- 4.5. Force curves and data processing with AFM -- 4.6. Contact mechanics models commonly employed for cell mechanics analysis -- 4.7. Cell mechanics employing AFM -- 4.8. Analysis of intracellular structures, including organelles -- 4.9. Mapping stiffness of intracellular components in fixed cells -- 4.10. Analysis of matrix mechanics in the presence and absence of cells -- 4.11. Determination of cell-cell adhesion forces -- 4.12. Spontaneous oscillations between cell adhesion forces and stiffness -- 4.13. Analysis of cell-matrix adhesion forces -- 4.14. Discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of AFM

5. The micropipette aspiration technique -- 5.1. Introduction to micropipette aspiration techniques for living cells -- 5.2. Principles of capillary actin inside the micropipette capillary -- 5.3. Classical cell shape analysis with the micropipette aspiration technique -- 5.4. General biomechanical models -- 5.5. Cell-matrix adhesion force measurements involve pulling and pushing forces -- 5.6. Cell-substrate rupture forces using micropipette aspiration -- 5.7. Cell-cell detachment force measurements using a dual pipette approach -- 5.8. Nuclear mechanics -- 5.9. Discussion of the urgent need for novel and improved experimental techniques -- 5.10. Strengths, weaknesses and future of the micropipette aspiration technique

6. Traction force microscopy -- 6.1. Introduction to cellular forces -- 6.2. 2D forces on planar substrates -- 6.3. 3D forces in 3D extracellular matrix scaffolds of various matrix types -- 6.4. 3D forces with a mixed Matrigel-collagen type I (rat) matrix scaffold -- 6.5. How far can cells feel and sense the mechanics of substrates? -- 6.6. Analysis of the hypothesis stating that long sensing distances are based on strain stiffening -- 6.7. 3D traction force of single cells in collagen matrices -- 6.8. Forces of cells on fibrin matrices -- 6.9. The long-distance mechanical interaction of cells in 3D fibrin matrices -- 6.10. Forces of cells in 3D in the process of cell division -- 6.11. Measurement of intracellular forces at cell-cell junctions employing intracellular force and monolayer stress microscopy

7. Plate rheometer and atomic force microscopy are employed for 3D matrix mechanics characterization -- 7.1. Introduction to plate rheology -- 7.2. Stress relaxation of collagen hydrogels -- 7.3. Modification of collagen fibrils through bundling using chemicals in 3D biomimetic matrices -- 7.4. Collagen type I self-assembly and the role of D-spacing -- 7.5. Mechanical cues in the creation of aligned collagen fibers -- 7.6. Methodological challenges -- 7.7. Why are collagen matrices still state-of-the art for the modeling of cellular microenvironments?

8. Impedance measurements of living matter -- 8.1. Introduction to impedance measurements of material -- 8.2. Impedance measurement of living matter or tissues -- 8.3. Impedance measurements of malignant cancer tissue -- 8.4. Cells are measured using electrical impedance techniques -- 8.5. The electrode-electrolyte electrical model for cell measurements with impedance -- 8.6. Finite element model (FEM) -- 8.7. Characterization of cancer cell lines with the impedance technique -- 8.8. Electrical impedance analysis of living cells due to external cues -- 8.9. Impedance spectroscopy as a technique for capacity surveillance in 3D models of epithelial tissues -- 8.10. The current situation and future approaches -- 8.11. 3D cell cluster analysis using a multiplexed four-terminal (4T) impedance technique

9. Cyclic stretching of cells through substrate stretching -- 9.1. Introduction to cyclic stretching of cells -- 9.2. Principle and set-up of the cyclic cell stretcher -- 9.3. Cell reorientation cannot be predicted by previous theoretical approaches -- 9.4. A novel theory for the reorientation of cells -- 9.5. Does the theory match the experimental approach? -- 9.6. Low-cost version of a cyclic uniaxial cell stretcher -- 9.7. The reorientation and differentiation of cell phenotypes in 3D matrices -- 9.8. Breakdown of collagen scaffolds in the course of cell stretching -- 9.9. What function do boundaries in the alignment of cells due to stretch fulfill? -- 9.10. What are the mechanical features of cell alignment in 2D and 3D? -- 9.11. Engineering and population of collagen matrices with fibroblasts -- 9.12. The benefits and drawbacks of the cyclic cell stretching device.

This is the third volume in the Physics of Cancer (Second Edition) set. The book introduces and discusses novel and advanced applications for probing and sensing mechanical properties of cells and their microenvironment. In addition, biophysical techniques for analysing combined biophysical techniques and cellular functions are presented and discussed. However, the major scope of the book is the presentation of biophysical approaches in cancer and its major findings that contribute significantly to the field of physics of cancer from a biophysical point of view. Each chapter is a closed unit and at its end references allow the reader to step more deeply into each topic. When possible, videos will be provided as a special feature to enhance the topics. Part of Biophysical Society-IOP series.

Students, PhDs, Post-Docs, Professors, and Researchers in biophysics.

Also available in print.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

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Claudia Tanja Mierke is a full professor at the Peter Debye Institute for Soft Matter Physics and Head of the Department of Biological Physics at the University of Leipzig. Her main areas of research have included the interaction of cancer cells and endothelial cells; effects of external mechanical stimulation of cancer cells on gene expression and tissue invasiveness on different mechanical and structural environments; the investigation of the dynamic interplay between the cells and their microenvironment from a biophysical point of view.

Title from PDF title page (viewed on September 1, 2021).