Many studies suggest that external forces applied to cells generate signals that are as potent as those of biochemical stimuli. To understand how these forces are transmitted to the molecular structures of cells, and how they might be transduced into biochemical reactions, require measuring both cell mechanical properties (CMPs) and biological pathways in a physiological environment. For this purpose, we will present measurements, through rheological approaches, of CMPs in a label-free manner performed thanks to an automated imaging system devoted to live cells combining digital holographic microscopy, environmental control, and microfluidic assays.
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