Cohesive suction-cup force in cell separation dynamics

PSC - 33 rue St Leu, 80039 Amiens Cedex, France, EU

^a hugues.vasseur@u-picardie.fr

Received: 17 February 2010
Accepted: 29 June 2010

Abstract

When an external pulling force is applied onto a cell stuck to its substrate, a reacting “suction-cup” force, due to the slow penetration of the surrounding fluid between the cell and the substrate, opposes to the separation. It can overcome other known adhesive forces when the process is sufficiently violent (typically 10⁵ N/m²). The physical origin of this effect may be compared with that leaning a suction-cup against a bathroom wall. We address the consequences of this effect on i) the separation energy, ii) the fluid motion surrounding the cell, and iii) the inhibition of cell motion.