Smith, I. M.; Ursitti, J. A.; Majeti, P.; Givpoor, N.; Stemberger, M. B.; Hengen, A.; Banerjee, S.; Stains, J. P.; Martin, S. S.; Ward, C. P.; Stroka, K. M.

Cellular mechanical properties influence cellular functions across pathological and physiological systems. The observation of these mechanical properties is limited in part by methods with a low throughput of acquisition or with low accessibility. To overcome these limitations, we have designed, developed, validated, and optimized a microfluidic cellular deformation system (MCDS) capable of mechanotyping suspended cells on a population level at a high throughput rate of ~300 cells pers second. The MCDS provides researchers with a viable method for efficiently quantifying cellular mechanical properties towards defining prognostic implications of mechanical changes in pathology or screening drugs to modulate cytoskeletal integrity.