Depth-sensing analysis of cytoskeleton organization based on AFM data

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is crucial for measuring living cell mechanical properties.
• Young's modulus is commonly determined at specific indentation depths (300-500 nm).
• Understanding cell mechanics is vital for various biological and medical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform depth-sensing analysis of living fibroblast mechanical properties under physiological conditions.
• To investigate the non-homogeneity of the cell cytoskeleton.
• To explore potential applications in cancer cell detection.

Main Methods:

• Utilized atomic force microscopy for depth-sensing analysis.
• Measured mechanical properties of living fibroblasts under physiological conditions.
• Obtained distributions of Young's moduli at various indentation depths.

Main Results:

• Small indentation depths revealed regions rich in actin filaments.
• Large indentation depths provided overall cell stiffness with decreased modulus values.
• Demonstrated cell cytoskeleton non-homogeneity, highlighting the role of sub-membrane actin filaments.

Conclusions:

• AFM depth-sensing analysis effectively maps cytoskeleton non-homogeneity.
• Actin filament networks significantly influence cell mechanics at the nanoscale.
• Preliminary findings suggest potential for improved cancerous cell detection, including melanoma cell lines.