Mechanical characterization of breast cancer cell lines based on cell culture experiments

Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer found in women globally, and it is the leading cause of death from cancerous growths. The mechanical properties of cells have been suggested as potential markers for diagnosing diseases like cancer without the need for labeling. The present study is focused on analyzing the mechanical properties of breast cancer cells derived from various types of breast cancer cell lines, including MCF-10A, MCF-7, MDA-MB-468, and MDA-MB-231 cells. Experimental data have been collected by conducting a ramp-relaxation test using an atomic force microscopy (AFM) device on cultured cells. The Kelvin-Voigt fractional derivative (KVFD) viscoelastic model has been used to determine the mechanical properties of the cells with the help of a customized MATLAB code. According to the viscoelastic parameters estimates from the KVFD model, it has been determined that the mechanical behavior of various breast cell types alter as malignancy levels rise. The results have been assessed by analyzing immunofluorescent images prepared from the cells and a satisfactory relationship between the viscoelastic properties of the cell lines and the presence of E-cadherin protein as well as DAPI staining has been shown.