Research in nano and cell mechanics has received much attention
from the scientific community as a result of society needs and
government initiatives to accelerate developments in materials,
manufacturing, electronics, medicine and healthcare, energy, and
the environment. Engineers and scientists are currently engaging in
increasingly complex scientific problems that require
interdisciplinary approaches. In this regard, studies in this field
draw from fundamentals in atomistic scale phenomena, biology,
statistical and continuum mechanics, and multiscale modeling and
experimentation. As a result, contributions in these areas are
spread over a large number of specialized journals, which prompted
the Editors to assemble this book.

Nano and Cell Mechanics: Fundamentals and Frontiers
brings together many of the new developments in the field for the
first time, and covers fundamentals and frontiers in mechanics to
accelerate developments in nano- and bio-technologies.

Key features:

* Provides an overview of recent advances in nano and cell
mechanics.

* Covers experimental, analytical, and computational tools
used to investigate biological and nanoscale phenomena.

* Covers fundamentals and frontiers in mechanics to
accelerate developments in nano- and bio-technologies.

* Presents multiscale-multiphysics modeling and
experimentation techniques.

* Examines applications in materials, manufacturing,
electronics, medicine and healthcare.

Nano and Cell Mechanics: Fundamentals and Frontiers is
written by internationally recognized experts in theoretical and
applied mechanics, applied physics, chemistry, and biology. It is
an invaluable reference for graduate students of nano- and
bio-technologies, researchers in academia and industry who are
working in nano and cell mechanics, and practitioners who are
interested in learning about the latest analysis tools. The book
can also serve as a text for graduate courses in theoretical and
applied mechanics, mechanical engineering, materials science, and
applied physics.

Horacio D. Espinosa, Northwestern University, USA
Horacio D. Espinosa is the James and Nancy Farley Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University, USA. He is a member of the European Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Fellow of AAM, ASME, and SEM. He served as Editor-in-chief of the Journal of Experimental Mechanics and Associate Editor of the Journal of Applied Mechanics. Currently, he is a co-editor of the Wiley Book Series in Micro and Nanotechnologies and serves in several journal editorial boards. His research interests include biomimetics, size scale electro-mechanical properties of nanomaterials, NEMS, in-situ microscopy testing of nanostructures, and the development of microdevices for tip-based nanofabrication and single cell studies.

Gang Bao, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
Gang Bao is Professor of Bioengineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA. His research interests include biomolecular engineering, bionanotechnology, molecular imaging and molecular biomechanics.

Research in nano and cell mechanics has received much attention from the scientific community as a result of society needs and government initiatives to accelerate developments in materials, manufacturing, electronics, medicine and healthcare, energy, and the environment. Engineers and scientists are currently engaging in increasingly complex scientific problems that require interdisciplinary approaches. In this regard, studies in this field draw from fundamentals in atomistic scale phenomena, biology, statistical and continuum mechanics, and multiscale modeling and experimentation. As a result, contributions in these areas are spread over a large number of specialized journals, which prompted the Editors to assemble this book.

Nano and Cell Mechanics: Fundamentals and Frontiers brings together many of the new developments in the field for the first time, and covers fundamentals and frontiers in mechanics to accelerate developments in nano- and bio-technologies.

Key features:

• Provides an overview of recent advances in nano and cell mechanics.

• Covers experimental, analytical, and computational tools used to investigate biological and nanoscale phenomena.

• Covers fundamentals and frontiers in mechanics to accelerate developments in nano- and bio-technologies.

• Presents multiscale-multiphysics modeling and experimentation techniques.

• Examines applications in materials, manufacturing, electronics, medicine and healthcare.

Nano and Cell Mechanics: Fundamentals and Frontiers is written by internationally recognized experts in theoretical and applied mechanics, applied physics, chemistry, and biology. It is an invaluable reference for graduate students of nano- and bio-technologies, researchers in academia and industry who are working in nano and cell mechanics, and practitioners who are interested in learning about the latest analysis tools. The book can also serve as a text for graduate courses in theoretical and applied mechanics, mechanical engineering, materials science, and applied physics.

About the Editors xiii

List of Contributors xv

Foreword xix

Series Preface xxi

Preface xxiii

Part One BIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA

1 Cell-Receptor Interactions 3
David Lepzelter and Muhammad Zaman

1.1 Introduction 3

1.2 Mechanics of Integrins 4

1.3 Two-Dimensional Adhesion 7

1.4 Two-Dimensional Motility 9

1.5 Three-Dimensional Adhesion 11

1.6 Three-Dimensional Motility 12

1.7 Apoptosis and Survival Signaling 13

1.8 Cell Differentiation Signaling 13

1.9 Conclusions 14

References 15

2 Regulatory Mechanisms of Kinesin and Myosin Motor Proteins: Inspiration for Improved Control of Nanomachines 19
Sarah Rice

2.1 Introduction 19

2.2 Generalized Mechanism of Cytoskeletal Motors 19

2.3 Switch I: A Controller of Motor Protein and G Protein Activation 21

2.4 Calcium-Binding Regulators of Myosins and Kinesins 23

2.5 Phospho-Regulation of Kinesin and Myosin Motors 262.6 Cooperative Action of Kinesin and Myosin Motors as a "Regulator" 28

2.7 Conclusion 29

References 30

3 Neuromechanics: The Role of Tension in Neuronal Growth and Memory 35
Wylie W. Ahmed, Jagannathan Rajagopalan, Alireza Tofangchi, and Taher A. Saif

3.1 Introduction 35

3.1.1 What is a Neuron? 36

3.1.2 How Does a Neuron Function? 38

3.1.3 How Does a Neuron Grow? 40

3.2 Tension in Neuronal Growth 41

3.2.1 In Vitro Measurements of Tension in Neurons 41

3.2.2 In Vivo Measurements of Tension in Neurons 43

3.2.3 Role of Tension in Structural Development 45

3.3 Tension in Neuron Function 48

3.3.1 Tension Increases Neurotransmission 48

3.3.2 Tension Affects Vesicle Dynamics 48

3.4 Modeling the Mechanical Behavior of Axons 52

3.5 Outlook 58

References 58

Part Two NANOSCALE PHENOMENA

4 Fundamentals of Roughness-Induced Superhydrophobicity 65
Neelesh A. Patankar

4.1 Background and Motivation 65

4.2 Thermodynamic Analysis: Classical Problem (Hydrophobic to Superhydrophobic) 67

4.2.1 Problem Formulation 68

4.2.2 The Cassie-Baxter State 71

4.2.3 Predicting Transition from Cassie-Baxter to Wenzel State 73

4.2.4 The Apparent Contact Angle of the Drop 77

4.2.5 Modeling Hysteresis 79