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Magnetic Flattening of Stem-Cell Spheroids Indicates a Size-Dependent Elastocapillary Transition

Francois Mazuel, Myriam Reffay, Vicard Du, Jean-Claude Bacri, Jean-Paul Rieu, and Claire Wilhelm
Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 098105 – Published 4 March 2015
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Abstract

Cellular aggregates (spheroids) are widely used in biophysics and tissue engineering as model systems for biological tissues. In this Letter we propose novel methods for molding stem-cell spheroids, deforming them, and measuring their interfacial and elastic properties with a single method based on cell tagging with magnetic nanoparticles and application of a magnetic field gradient. Magnetic molding yields spheroids of unprecedented sizes (up to a few mm in diameter) and preserves tissue integrity. On subjecting these spheroids to magnetic flattening (over 150g), we observed a size-dependent elastocapillary transition with two modes of deformation: liquid-drop-like behavior for small spheroids, and elastic-sphere-like behavior for larger spheroids, followed by relaxation to a liquidlike drop.

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  • Received 24 July 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.098105

© 2015 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Magnetic Cells

Published 4 March 2015

Magnetic nanoparticles can be used to prepare and characterize multicellular aggregates that serve as model systems for biological tissues.

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Authors & Affiliations

Francois Mazuel1, Myriam Reffay1, Vicard Du1, Jean-Claude Bacri1, Jean-Paul Rieu2, and Claire Wilhelm1,*

  • 1Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes, UMR 7057, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, 75013 Paris, France
  • 2Institut Lumière Matière, UMR 5306, Université Lyon 1-CNRS, Université de Lyon, 69622 Villeurbanne cedex, France

  • *Corresponding author. claire.wilhelm@univ-paris-diderot.fr

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Issue

Vol. 114, Iss. 9 — 6 March 2015

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