Aimed at senior undergraduates and graduate students in science and biomedical engineering, this text explores the architecture of a cell's envelope and internal scaffolding, and the properties of its soft components. The book first discusses the properties of individual flexible polymers, networks and membranes, and then considers simple composite assemblages such as bacteria and synthetic cells. The analysis is performed within a consistent theoretical framework, although readers can navigate from the introductory material to results and biological applications without working through the intervening mathematics. This, together with a glossary of terms and appendices providing quick introductions to chemical nomenclature, cell structure, statistical mechanics and elasticity theory, make the text suitable for readers from a variety of subject backgrounds. Further applications and extensions are handled through problem sets at the end of each chapter and supplementary material available on the Internet.

‘In Mechanics of the Cell David Boal explains the mechanical properties of the biopolymers found within cells … for graduate students in the general field and for biotechnologists required to consider added dimensions to their work it represents a comprehensive text that ought to make it a standard reference for many years.’

Ian Jones Source: Chemistry in Britain

‘If we were really honest with ourselves, most of us would have to admit that we often take the humble biological cell for granted … David Boal describes the architecture of the biological cell’s internal and external structure in extensive detail … This book is highly detailed; by virtue of the incredibly complex mechanics underlying the specialised properties of biological cells, it needs to be!’

Kevin Coward Source: Biologist

‘This book is by a physicist attempting to get across the underlying physical principles behind biological structures … a very useful text, which fills a hole in the literature, and will serve as a useful reference for a number of years to come.’

John Seddon Source: Chemistry & Industry