Mechanical Characterization of the Erythrocyte Membrane Using a Capacitor-Based Technique
(2024) In Micromachines 15(5). p.1-15- Abstract
Pathological processes often change the mechanical properties of cells. Increased rigidity could be a marker of cellular malfunction. Erythrocytes are a type of cell that deforms to squeeze through tiny capillaries; changes in their rigidity can dramatically affect their functionality. Furthermore, differences in the homeostatic elasticity of the cell can be used as a tool for diagnosis and even for choosing the adequate treatment for some illnesses. More accurate types of equipment needed to study biomechanical phenomena at the single-cell level are very costly and thus out of reach for many laboratories around the world. This study presents a simple and low-cost technique to study the rigidity of red blood cells (RBCs) through the... (More)
Pathological processes often change the mechanical properties of cells. Increased rigidity could be a marker of cellular malfunction. Erythrocytes are a type of cell that deforms to squeeze through tiny capillaries; changes in their rigidity can dramatically affect their functionality. Furthermore, differences in the homeostatic elasticity of the cell can be used as a tool for diagnosis and even for choosing the adequate treatment for some illnesses. More accurate types of equipment needed to study biomechanical phenomena at the single-cell level are very costly and thus out of reach for many laboratories around the world. This study presents a simple and low-cost technique to study the rigidity of red blood cells (RBCs) through the application of electric fields in a hand-made microfluidic chamber that uses a capacitor principle. As RBCs are deformed with the application of voltage, cells are observed under a light microscope. From mechanical force vs. deformation data, the elastic constant of the cells is determined. The results obtained with the capacitor-based method were compared with those obtained using optical tweezers, finding good agreement. In addition,
(Less)
P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes were tested with the electric field applicator. Our technique provides a simple means of testing the mechanical properties of individual cells.
- author
- publishing date
- 2024-04-28
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- in
- Micromachines
- volume
- 15
- issue
- 5
- article number
- 590
- pages
- 1 - 15
- publisher
- MDPI AG
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:38793163
- scopus:85194107133
- ISSN
- 2072-666X
- DOI
- 10.3390/mi15050590
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- 2558cbe9-fc08-4ca2-b5c5-45f56aecc8f0
- date added to LUP
- 2026-01-29 10:19:37
- date last changed
- 2026-01-30 04:03:00
@article{2558cbe9-fc08-4ca2-b5c5-45f56aecc8f0,
abstract = {{<p>Pathological processes often change the mechanical properties of cells. Increased rigidity could be a marker of cellular malfunction. Erythrocytes are a type of cell that deforms to squeeze through tiny capillaries; changes in their rigidity can dramatically affect their functionality. Furthermore, differences in the homeostatic elasticity of the cell can be used as a tool for diagnosis and even for choosing the adequate treatment for some illnesses. More accurate types of equipment needed to study biomechanical phenomena at the single-cell level are very costly and thus out of reach for many laboratories around the world. This study presents a simple and low-cost technique to study the rigidity of red blood cells (RBCs) through the application of electric fields in a hand-made microfluidic chamber that uses a capacitor principle. As RBCs are deformed with the application of voltage, cells are observed under a light microscope. From mechanical force vs. deformation data, the elastic constant of the cells is determined. The results obtained with the capacitor-based method were compared with those obtained using optical tweezers, finding good agreement. In addition,<br>
P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes were tested with the electric field applicator. Our technique provides a simple means of testing the mechanical properties of individual cells.<br>
</p>}},
author = {{Dorta, Doriana and Plazaola, Carlos and Carrasco, Jafeth and Alves-Rosa, Maria F and Coronado, Lorena M and Correa, Ricardo and Zambrano, Maytee and Gutiérrez-Medina, Braulio and Sarmiento-Gómez, Erick and Spadafora, Carmenza and Gonzalez, Guadalupe}},
issn = {{2072-666X}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{04}},
number = {{5}},
pages = {{1--15}},
publisher = {{MDPI AG}},
series = {{Micromachines}},
title = {{Mechanical Characterization of the Erythrocyte Membrane Using a Capacitor-Based Technique}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/mi15050590}},
doi = {{10.3390/mi15050590}},
volume = {{15}},
year = {{2024}},
}