AFM for quantifying single-cell and tissue mechanics

Abstract

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a powerful technique for quantifying mechanical properties of single cells [1]. Recent AFM studies revealed the cell-to-cell [2] and temporal [3] variations of single-cell mechanical properties. Furthermore, AFM allowed us to measure the mechanical properties of multicellular system [4], combined with high-speed [5] and precise [6] measurement techniques. The applicability and limitations of single-cell mechanical assay and of probing tissue mechanics by AFM will be presented.[1] Y. M. Efremov et al. Soft Matter 16, 64 (2020). [2] P.G. Cai et al., Biophys. J. 105, 1093 (2013) . [3] P.G. Cai, R. Takahashi et al. Biophys. J. 113, 671 (2017). [4] Y. Fujii, T. Okajima, AIP Advances 9, 015028 (2019). [5] R. Takahashi, T. Okajima, Appl. Phys. Lett. 107, 173702 (2015). [6] Y. Fujii et al., Biophys. J. 116, 1152 (2019).