TY - JOUR

T1 - Bridging microscopic cell dynamics to nematohydrodynamics of cell monolayers

AU - Ardaseva, Aleksandra

AU - Mueller, Romain

AU - Doostmohammadi, Amin

PY - 2022/6/29

Y1 - 2022/6/29

N2 - It is increasingly being realized that liquid-crystalline features can play an important role in the properties and dynamics of cell monolayers. Here, we present a cell-based model of cell layers, based on the phase-field formulation, that connects cell-cell interactions specified at the single cell level to large-scale nematic and hydrodynamic properties of the tissue. In particular, we present a minimal formulation that reproduces the well-known bend and splay hydrodynamic instabilities of the continuum nemato-hydrodynamic formulation of active matter, together with an analytical description of the instability threshold in terms of activity and elasticity of the cells. Furthermore, we provide a quantitative characterisation and comparison of flows and topological defects for extensile and contractile stress generation mechanisms, and demonstrate activity-induced heterogeneity and spontaneous formation of gaps within a confluent monolayer. Together, these results contribute to bridging the gap between cell-scale dynamics and tissue-scale collective cellular organisation.

AB - It is increasingly being realized that liquid-crystalline features can play an important role in the properties and dynamics of cell monolayers. Here, we present a cell-based model of cell layers, based on the phase-field formulation, that connects cell-cell interactions specified at the single cell level to large-scale nematic and hydrodynamic properties of the tissue. In particular, we present a minimal formulation that reproduces the well-known bend and splay hydrodynamic instabilities of the continuum nemato-hydrodynamic formulation of active matter, together with an analytical description of the instability threshold in terms of activity and elasticity of the cells. Furthermore, we provide a quantitative characterisation and comparison of flows and topological defects for extensile and contractile stress generation mechanisms, and demonstrate activity-induced heterogeneity and spontaneous formation of gaps within a confluent monolayer. Together, these results contribute to bridging the gap between cell-scale dynamics and tissue-scale collective cellular organisation.

KW - TOPOLOGICAL DEFECTS

KW - FORCES

KW - MECHANISM

U2 - 10.1039/d2sm00537a

DO - 10.1039/d2sm00537a

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 35703313

VL - 18

SP - 4737

EP - 4746

JO - Soft Matter

JF - Soft Matter

SN - 1744-683X

IS - 25

ER -