  We investigate a method of selectively targeting cancer cells by means of
ultrasound harmonic excitation at their resonance frequency, which we refer to
as oncotripsy. The geometric model of the cells takes into account the
cytoplasm, nucleus and nucleolus, as well as the plasma membrane and nuclear
envelope. Material properties are varied within a pathophysiologically-relevant
range. A first modal analysis reveals the existence of a spectral gap between
the natural frequencies and, most importantly, resonant growth rates of healthy
and cancerous cells. The results of the modal analysis are verified by
simulating the fully-nonlinear transient response of healthy and cancerous
cells at resonance. The fully nonlinear analysis confirms that cancerous cells
can be selectively taken to lysis by the application of carefully tuned
ultrasound harmonic excitation while simultaneously leaving healthy cells
intact.
