Thermodynamics and thermoeconomics of cell division in presence of exogenous materials in nucleus

TL;DR

This paper explores how introducing exogenous materials like nanoparticles into the cell nucleus affects cell division from a thermodynamic perspective, revealing potential mechanisms for regulation and control of this vital biological process.

Contribution

It provides a thermodynamic analysis of cell division regulation by nanoparticles, highlighting the impact on energy barriers and optimal symmetry, which is a novel approach in this field.

Findings

Nanoparticles can arrest cell division at specific stages.

Presence of nanoparticles alters energy barriers in cell division.

Optimal symmetry conditions are affected by exogenous materials.

Abstract

Cell division is an essential biological process, and regulation of cell division is of relevance for many important fields of biology and medicine. Introducing exogenous substances, such as nanoparticles, into the nucleus, has been experimentally studied to regulate the division of cells. Herein we considered this phenomenon from a general view of energetics. Through analyzing the thermodynamics during the cell division process, we investigated the optimal symmetry for cell division and the effect of nanoparticles on the energy barriers. The presence of nanoparticles inside cell nucleus might arrest cells before cytokinesis or other stages, thereby regulate the cell division.