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Structure–Mechanical Property Changes in Nucleus arising from Breast Cancer

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Cellular and Biomolecular Mechanics and Mechanobiology

Part of the book series: Studies in Mechanobiology, Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials ((SMTEB,volume 4))

Abstract

Nuclear mechanics has attracted much attention in recent years, not only because of its functional role in cell biology, but also its structural role in cell mechanics and mechanotransduction. However, little has been done so far to investigate the nuclear mechanics in the context of cancer cells. Here, nanoindentation using an atomic force microscope was used to characterize the elasticity of isolated nuclei of benign (MCF-10A) and malignant (MCF-7) human breast epithelial cells. Isolated nuclei of malignant cells (MCF-7) were found to have an apparent Young’s modulus that is half of the non-malignant cells (MCF-10A). The underlying lamina (lamin A/C) structure of both cell types was also investigated by confocal microscopy to understand its possible contribution to the mechanical property change of nucleus. This study can potentially provide better insights into metastasis, where a possible contributing factor is the softening of cancer cells arising from a more deformable nucleus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MechanoBiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Qingsen Li & Chwee Teck Lim

  2. Division of Bioengineering and Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Chwee Teck Lim

Authors
  1. Qingsen Li
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  2. Chwee Teck Lim
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Correspondence to Chwee Teck Lim .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fac. Engineering, Dept. Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978, Israel

    Amit Gefen

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Li, Q., Lim, C.T. (2010). Structure–Mechanical Property Changes in Nucleus arising from Breast Cancer. In: Gefen, A. (eds) Cellular and Biomolecular Mechanics and Mechanobiology. Studies in Mechanobiology, Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials, vol 4. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/8415_2010_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/8415_2010_19

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-14217-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-14218-5

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