Osmotic loading of cells has been used to investigate their physicochemical properties as well as their biosynthetic activities. The classical Kedem–Katchalsky framework for analyzing cell response to osmotic loading, which models the cell as a fluid-filled membrane, does not generally account for the possibility of partial volume recovery in response to loading with a permeating osmolyte, as observed in some experiments. The cell may be more accurately represented as a hydrated gel surrounded by a semi-permeable membrane, with the gel and membrane potentially exhibiting different properties. To help assess whether this more elaborate model of the cell is justified, this study investigates the response of spherical gels to osmotic loading, both from experiments and theory. The spherical gel is described using the framework of mixture theory. In the experimental component of the study alginate is used as the model gel, and is osmotically loaded with dextran solutions of various concentrations and molecular weight, to verify the predictions from the theoretical analysis. Results show that the mixture framework can accurately predict the transient and equilibrium response of alginate gels to osmotic loading with dextran solutions. It is found that the partition coefficient of dextran in alginate regulates the equilibrium volume response and can explain partial volume recovery based on passive transport mechanisms. The validation of this theoretical framework facilitates future investigations of the role of the protoplasm in the response of cells to osmotic loading.
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August 2007
Technical Papers
Osmotic Loading of Spherical Gels: A Biomimetic Study of Hindered Transport in the Cell Protoplasm
Michael B. Albro,
Michael B. Albro
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
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Nadeen O. Chahine,
Nadeen O. Chahine
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
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Matteo Caligaris,
Matteo Caligaris
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
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Victoria I. Wei,
Victoria I. Wei
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
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Morakot Likhitpanichkul,
Morakot Likhitpanichkul
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
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Kenneth W. Ng,
Kenneth W. Ng
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
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Clark T. Hung,
Clark T. Hung
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
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Gerard A. Ateshian
Gerard A. Ateshian
Professor
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
e-mail: ateshian@columbia.edu
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
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Michael B. Albro
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
Nadeen O. Chahine
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
Matteo Caligaris
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
Victoria I. Wei
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
Morakot Likhitpanichkul
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
Kenneth W. Ng
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
Clark T. Hung
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027
Gerard A. Ateshian
Professor
Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
, 500 West 120th Street, MC 4703, New York, NY 10027e-mail: ateshian@columbia.edu
J Biomech Eng. Aug 2007, 129(4): 503-510 (8 pages)
Published Online: November 20, 2006
Article history
Received:
August 8, 2005
Revised:
November 20, 2006
Citation
Albro, M. B., Chahine, N. O., Caligaris, M., Wei, V. I., Likhitpanichkul, M., Ng, K. W., Hung, C. T., and Ateshian, G. A. (November 20, 2006). "Osmotic Loading of Spherical Gels: A Biomimetic Study of Hindered Transport in the Cell Protoplasm." ASME. J Biomech Eng. August 2007; 129(4): 503–510. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2746371
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