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Using interconnected viscoelastic elements to investigate forces and the role of cell properties during cell migration.

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Title: Using interconnected viscoelastic elements to investigate forces and the role of cell properties during cell migration.
Authors: Xu, Yuehui1 (AUTHOR), Zhu, Luoding1 (AUTHOR), Opafola, Faith2 (AUTHOR), Liu, Jing3 (AUTHOR), Barber, Jared1 (AUTHOR) jarobarb@iu.edu
Source: Mathematical Biosciences. Jun2026, Vol. 396, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Cell migration, Focal adhesions, Mathematical models, Cellular mechanics, Viscoelastic materials, Sensitivity analysis, Simulation methods & models
Abstract: • Interconnected viscoelastic elements model a 3D migrating cell. • Focal adhesions arise in a lamellipodia-like protrusion and connect with a substrate. • A mathematical and computational model of cell migration is experimentally validated. • A sensitivity analysis of elastic and other factors affecting cell migration is done. We build a model of a general three-dimensional cell migrating across a flat substrate using an interconnected network of viscoelastic elements (damped springs). While the end goal is to use the model to investigate forces in migrating biological cells, the goal here is to demonstrate the model's validity, practical feasibility, and capability. We first show qualitative agreement with experiment including reasonable shape and speed, higher protrusive forces correlating with higher focal adhesion forces, and higher adhesive forces near the cell's front and back. We then show the model can produce estimates of deformation and stresses in migrating cells. We lastly perform a sensitivity analysis demonstrating that 1) cell length is increased by increasing driving force and focal adhesion attachment strength and by decreasing reference volume, 2) cell speed is increased by decreasing cell membrane-substrate interaction and increasing driving force, and 3) focal adhesion forces are increased by decreasing membrane elasticity and number of focal adhesions. Our results suggest that future model calibration will yield useful insights into how cell forces affect migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Mathematical Biosciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 193288439
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Periodical
PubTypeId: serialPeriodical
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Using interconnected viscoelastic elements to investigate forces and the role of cell properties during cell migration.
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  Label: Authors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xu%2C+Yuehui%22">Xu, Yuehui</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhu%2C+Luoding%22">Zhu, Luoding</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Opafola%2C+Faith%22">Opafola, Faith</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Liu%2C+Jing%22">Liu, Jing</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Barber%2C+Jared%22">Barber, Jared</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jarobarb@iu.edu</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Mathematical+Biosciences%22">Mathematical Biosciences</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 396, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
– Name: Subject
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cell+migration%22">Cell migration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Focal+adhesions%22">Focal adhesions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematical+models%22">Mathematical models</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cellular+mechanics%22">Cellular mechanics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Viscoelastic+materials%22">Viscoelastic materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sensitivity+analysis%22">Sensitivity analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Simulation+methods+%26+models%22">Simulation methods & models</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: • Interconnected viscoelastic elements model a 3D migrating cell. • Focal adhesions arise in a lamellipodia-like protrusion and connect with a substrate. • A mathematical and computational model of cell migration is experimentally validated. • A sensitivity analysis of elastic and other factors affecting cell migration is done. We build a model of a general three-dimensional cell migrating across a flat substrate using an interconnected network of viscoelastic elements (damped springs). While the end goal is to use the model to investigate forces in migrating biological cells, the goal here is to demonstrate the model's validity, practical feasibility, and capability. We first show qualitative agreement with experiment including reasonable shape and speed, higher protrusive forces correlating with higher focal adhesion forces, and higher adhesive forces near the cell's front and back. We then show the model can produce estimates of deformation and stresses in migrating cells. We lastly perform a sensitivity analysis demonstrating that 1) cell length is increased by increasing driving force and focal adhesion attachment strength and by decreasing reference volume, 2) cell speed is increased by decreasing cell membrane-substrate interaction and increasing driving force, and 3) focal adhesion forces are increased by decreasing membrane elasticity and number of focal adhesions. Our results suggest that future model calibration will yield useful insights into how cell forces affect migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Mathematical Biosciences is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.mbs.2026.109682
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Cell migration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Focal adhesions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mathematical models
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cellular mechanics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Viscoelastic materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sensitivity analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Simulation methods & models
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Using interconnected viscoelastic elements to investigate forces and the role of cell properties during cell migration.
        Type: main
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      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Xu, Yuehui
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhu, Luoding
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            NameFull: Opafola, Faith
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            NameFull: Liu, Jing
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            NameFull: Barber, Jared
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 396
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Mathematical Biosciences
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