Abstract
Modeling cell movement is a challenging task since the motility machinery is highly complex. Moreover, there is a rather broad diversity of different cell types. In order to obtain insights into generic features of the motility mechanisms of several distinct cell types, we propose a modular approach that starts with a minimal model, consisting of a phase field description of the moving cell boundary and a simplified internal dynamics. We discuss how this starting point can be extended to increase the level of detail, and how the internal dynamics "module" can be changed/adjusted to properly model various cell types. The former route allows studying specific processes involved in cell motility in the framework of a self-organized moving domain, and the latter might permit to put different cellular motility mechanisms into a unified framework.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1265-1277 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | European Physical Journal: Special Topics |
Volume | 223 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2014 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General Materials Science
- General Physics and Astronomy
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry