Wrinkling Instability in Unsupported Epithelial Sheets

We investigate the elasticity of an unsupported epithelial monolayer and we discover that unlike a thin solid plate, which wrinkles if geometrically incompatible with the underlying substrate, the epithelium may do so even in the absence of the substrate. From a cell-based model, we derive an exact...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2023-05, Vol.130 (19), p.198401-198401, Article 198401
Main Authors: Andrenšek, Urška, Ziherl, Primož, Krajnc, Matej
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We investigate the elasticity of an unsupported epithelial monolayer and we discover that unlike a thin solid plate, which wrinkles if geometrically incompatible with the underlying substrate, the epithelium may do so even in the absence of the substrate. From a cell-based model, we derive an exact elasticity theory and discover wrinkling driven by the differential apico-basal surface tension. Our theory is mapped onto that for supported plates by introducing a phantom substrate whose stiffness is finite beyond a critical differential tension. This suggests a new mechanism for an autonomous control of tissues over the length scale of their surface patterns.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.198401