Elasticity measurement of breast cancer cells by atomic force microscopy

• DOI: 10.1117/12.2069116
• Publication Date: 2014-09-16T22:24:33Z
• Authors: Chaoxian Xu; Yuhua Wang; Ningcheng Jiang; Hongqin Yang; Juqiang Lin; Shusen Xie
• Keywords: Elasticity

Mechanical properties of living cells play an important role in understanding various cells' function and state. Therefore cell biomechanics is expected to become a useful tool for cancer diagnosis. In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) using square pyramid probe was performed investigate cancerous (MCF-7) benign (MCF-10A) human breast epithelial cells. The new QI^TM mode used acquire high-resolution topographic images elasticity Furthermore, individual curves were recorded at maximum loads 0.2, 0.5 1 nN, the dependence cell's with loading discussed. It showed that exhibited smaller modulus comparison non-cancerous counterparts. increased as from 0.2 nN nN. This observation indicates affects apparent it choose appropriate applied order distinguish normal results reveal mechanical measured by may be indicator type disease.