Fluid-structure interactions in the cytoskeleton

Cell mechanics is key to many cellular processes, including cell shape, cell motility and cell division. It is also an important biomarker for probing cell’s pathological changes, and is increasingly used for cancer diagnosis. The main component of cell’s mechanical machinery is the cytoskeleton, which is a highly dynamic network of microscopic filaments. The cytoskeletal filaments are continuously moved by forces from nanoscopic motors that attach to and walk along them. These movements within the cell generate flows that are on the scale of the cell. These induced fluid-structures (filaments) interactions are key to the cytoskeleton mechanics; yet they have been largely ignored in previous studies. The purpose of this project is to use computer simulations and mathematical modelling to develop a deep understanding of the role of fluid-structure interactions and cellular flows on the cytoskeleton organization and mechanics.

Related publications:

Shi, W., Moradi, M., & Nazockdast, E. (2022). Hydrodynamics of a single filament moving in a spherical membrane. Physical Review Fluids, 7(8), 084004.

Nazockdast, E. (2019). Hydrodynamic interactions of filaments polymerizing against obstacles. Cytoskeleton, 76(11-12), 586-599.

Du Roure, O., Lindner, A., Nazockdast, E. N., & Shelley, M. J. (2019). Dynamics of flexible fibers in viscous flows and fluids. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, 51, 539-572.

Nazockdast, E., Rahimian, A., Needleman, D., & Shelley, M. (2017). Cytoplasmic flows as signatures for the mechanics of mitotic positioning. Molecular biology of the cell, 28(23), 3261-3270.

Nazockdast, E., Rahimian, A., Zorin, D., & Shelley, M. (2017). A fast platform for simulating semi-flexible fiber suspensions applied to cell mechanics. Journal of Computational Physics, 329, 173-209.