2025,
46(7):
821-835.
doi: 10.21656/1000-0887.450140
Abstract:
The ultrasonic wave, owing to its non-invasiveness, precise targeting, and minimal side effects, has found extensive applications in clinical therapy. In recent years, tumor treatment utilizing ultrasonic exciting to induce vibration behaviors in cancer cell nuclei has drawn much attention. However, the dynamical characteristics and resonance mechanisms of cell nuclei, particularly under forced vibration, remain unclear. A model for cell nuclei was established to investigate the vibration responses under low-intensity ultrasonic excitations. Typical lymphocytes (suspended cells), glial cells, and chondrocytes with different substrate stiffnesses were taken as examples. The results indicate that, the higher the frequency and intensity of ultrasonic excitation are, the larger the acoustic force acting on the cell nucleus will be. Under certain frequency and intensity of ultrasonic excitation, the acoustic force acting on the cell nucleus will increase with the cell matrix stiffness. Ultrasonic excitation on cells can cause cell nuclear resonance, and the greater the cell matrix stiffness is, the higher the cell nuclear resonance frequency will be. The relative vibration amplitude of the cell nucleus decreases with the matrix stiffness, with lymphocytes having the largest resonance amplitudes, glial cells the next largest, and chondrocytes the smallest. This study provides a theoretical and analytical framework for ultrasound-excited cell nucleus vibration, and is conducive to promoting the development of ultrasound-based tumor mechanotherapy.