Contribution of micro-nanotechnologies to the study of cellular mechanics

Biological cells are the center of biochemical or genetic phenomena that they trigger or are subjected to by the environment. However, they remain closely linked to their mechanical properties. This small living entity is active and consumes energy in order to respond to all sorts of solicitations displacing it from its equilibrium point. The rheological properties of living cells are thus capable to impact their behavior in vitro such as, for instance, the generation of forces in response to a mechanical stimulation. Tools and physical models have been specifically developed in order to study these properties. These techniques of "passive" or "active" characterization allow for studying these phenomena at various scales of time or size and establish correlations between mechanical properties and biochemical activity.