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Physical limits to biomechanical sensing in disordered fibre networks

Author

Listed:
  • Farzan Beroz

    (Joseph Henry Laboratories of Physics, Princeton University
    Arnold-Sommerfeld-Center for Theoretical Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich)

  • Louise M. Jawerth

    (Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems
    Harvard University)

  • Stefan Münster

    (Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems
    School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University)

  • David A. Weitz

    (Harvard University
    School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University)

  • Chase P. Broedersz

    (Joseph Henry Laboratories of Physics, Princeton University
    Arnold-Sommerfeld-Center for Theoretical Physics and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich
    Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University)

  • Ned S. Wingreen

    (Joseph Henry Laboratories of Physics, Princeton University
    Princeton University)

Abstract

Cells actively probe and respond to the stiffness of their surroundings. Since mechanosensory cells in connective tissue are surrounded by a disordered network of biopolymers, their in vivo mechanical environment can be extremely heterogeneous. Here we investigate how this heterogeneity impacts mechanosensing by modelling the cell as an idealized local stiffness sensor inside a disordered fibre network. For all types of networks we study, including experimentally-imaged collagen and fibrin architectures, we find that measurements applied at different points yield a strikingly broad range of local stiffnesses, spanning roughly two decades. We verify via simulations and scaling arguments that this broad range of local stiffnesses is a generic property of disordered fibre networks. Finally, we show that to obtain optimal, reliable estimates of global tissue stiffness, a cell must adjust its size, shape, and position to integrate multiple stiffness measurements over extended regions of space.

Suggested Citation

  • Farzan Beroz & Louise M. Jawerth & Stefan Münster & David A. Weitz & Chase P. Broedersz & Ned S. Wingreen, 2017. "Physical limits to biomechanical sensing in disordered fibre networks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms16096
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms16096
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