Cytoskeletal tension governs chaotic vibration of nuclei during ultrasound ablation of cells

Selective ablation of cancer cells by ultrasound is a longstanding goal that may be possible to achieve if their nuclei can be induced to vibrate against the cytoskeleton under conditions that leave healthy cells unharmed. To evaluate the possibility of creating such conditions pharmacologically, we developed a model of how active cytoskeletal contractility affects nuclear vibration. Results revealed that actomyosin filament buckling governs a pitchfork bifurcation in nuclear displacement, leading to chaotic vibration within a regime that can be induced by agonists and inhibitors of cytoskeletal contractility.