%0 Journal Article %J Soft Matter %D 2012 %T Low intensity ultrasound perturbs cytoskeleton dynamics %A Mizrahi, Natalya %A Zhou, Enhua H. %A Lenormand, Guillaume %A Krishnan, Ramaswamy %A Weihs, Daphne %A James P. Butler %A Weitz, David A %A Jeffrey J. Fredberg %A Kimmel, Eitan %X

Therapeutic ultrasound is widely employed in clinical applications but its mechanism of action remains unclear. Here we report prompt fluidization of a cell and dramatic acceleration of its remodeling dynamics when exposed to low intensity ultrasound. These physical changes are caused by very small strains (10(-5)) at ultrasonic frequencies (10(6) Hz), but are closely analogous to those caused by relatively large strains (10(-1)) at physiological frequencies (10(0) Hz). Moreover, these changes are reminiscent of rejuvenation and aging phenomena that are well-established in certain soft inert materials. As such, we suggest cytoskeletal fluidization together with resulting acceleration of cytoskeletal remodeling events as a mechanism contributing to the salutary effects of low intensity therapeutic ultrasound.

%B Soft Matter %V 8 %P 2438-2443 %G eng %U https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2012/SM/c2sm07246g#!divAbstract %N 8