Measuring Elastic Properties of Single Cancer Cells by AFM

Małgorzata Lekka; Joanna Pabijan

doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-8894-5_18

Measuring Elastic Properties of Single Cancer Cells by AFM

Methods Mol Biol. 2019:1886:315-324. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8894-5_18.

Authors

Małgorzata Lekka¹, Joanna Pabijan²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biophysical Microstructures, Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342, Krakow, Poland. Malgorzata.Lekka@ifj.edu.pl.
² Department of Biophysical Microstructures, Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342, Krakow, Poland.

PMID: 30374876
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8894-5_18

Abstract

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) enables the measurements of the elastic properties of individual cells in liquids that mimic natural conditions. The single-cell deformability, quantitatively described through the Young's (elastic) modulus, can be used as a marker of pathological alterations, particularly those observed in cancer progression. Here, the AFM-based measurements and data analysis of mechanical properties of single cancerous cells are presented.

Keywords: Atomic force microscopy; Cancer cell mechanics; Single-cell deformability; Young’s (elastic) modulus.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cell Line, Tumor
Data Analysis
Elastic Modulus*
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Mechanical Phenomena
Microscopy, Atomic Force* / methods
Single-Cell Analysis* / methods