Hydraulic and electric control of cell spheroids

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical model analyzing how radial fluid flow and electric currents influence the growth and stability of cell spheroids, revealing potential methods to control their size via external fields.

Contribution

It introduces a continuum-based theoretical framework incorporating mechanical, electric, and hydraulic effects to predict spheroid behavior under external fields.

Findings

External fields can induce spheroid shrinking or growth control.

Steady fluid flow or electric current significantly alters long-term spheroid states.

External fields of indigenous magnitude can effectively manipulate spheroid dynamics.

Abstract

We use a theoretical approach to examine the effect of a radial fluid flow or electric current on the growth and homeostasis of a cell spheroid. Such conditions may be generated by a drain of micrometric diameter. To perform this analysis, we describe the tissue as a continuum. We include active mechanical, electric, and hydraulic components in the tissue material properties. We consider a spherical geometry and study the effect of the drain on the dynamics of the cell aggregate. We show that a steady fluid flow or electric current imposed by the drain could be able to significantly change the spheroid long-time state. In particular, our work suggests that a growing spheroid can systematically be driven to a shrinking state if an appropriate external field is applied. Order-of-magnitude estimates suggest that such fields are of the order of the indigenous ones. Similarities and differences with the case of tumors and embryo development are briefly discussed.