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Related Concept Videos

Atomic Force Microscopy01:08

Atomic Force Microscopy

4.8K
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a type of scanning probe microscopy that can analyze topographic details of various specimens like ceramics, glass, polymers, and biological samples. AFM offers over 1000 times more resolution than the optical imaging system. Images generated from AFM are three-dimensional surface profiles, offering an advantage over the flat, two-dimensional images from other imaging techniques.
The AFM Probe
The probe is regarded as the heart of any AFM setup and comprises the...
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Studying the Cytoskeleton01:17

Studying the Cytoskeleton

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The cytoskeletal architecture can be studied using different microscopic and biochemical techniques. Electron microscopy was instrumental in discovering the cytoskeletal architecture around the 1960s, which allowed obtaining structural information at a high-resolution level. However, the sample preparation procedure often limits this ability in biological samples. Several protocols have been developed over the years to optimize sample preparation. In one of the protocols known as rotary...
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Mechanical Protein Functions01:58

Mechanical Protein Functions

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Proteins perform many mechanical functions in a cell. These proteins can be classified into two general categories- proteins that generate mechanical forces and proteins that are subjected to mechanical forces. Proteins providing mechanical support to the structure of the cell, such as keratin, are subjected to mechanical force, whereas proteins involved in cell movement and transport of molecules across cell membranes, such as an ion pump, are examples of generating mechanical force. 
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Living Cells Using Atomic Force Microscopy
08:41

Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Living Cells Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Published on: June 27, 2013

41.6K

Investigating cell mechanics with atomic force microscopy.

Kristina Haase1, Andrew E Pelling2

  • 1Department of Physics, Centre for Interdisciplinary NanoPhysics, MacDonald Hall, University of Ottawa, 150 Louis Pasteur, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada tinahaase@gmail.com.

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|January 16, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cell mechanics and mechanotransduction are vital for cell function. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes cell deformation, revealing complex responses to mechanical force, though a unified model remains elusive.

Keywords:
atomic force microscopycell strainforce sensingmechanotransductionviscoelasticity

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology
  • Mechanobiology

Background:

  • Cellular mechanical force transmission is essential for development and function.
  • Understanding mechanotransduction requires studying cell mechanics, including deformation and recovery.
  • Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a versatile tool for investigating cellular mechanical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the process of mechanotransduction and the role of cell mechanics.
  • To highlight the application of AFM in probing cellular responses to mechanical force.
  • To provide an overview of models used to describe cell mechanics.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on mechanotransduction and cell mechanics.
  • Discussion of mechanosensors and their roles in force perception.
  • Focus on AFM-based studies examining single-cell elastic and inelastic responses to deformation.

Main Results:

  • Cellular responses to mechanical force are complex and depend on loading magnitude and timescale.
  • AFM enables detailed characterization of single-cell mechanical properties.
  • Various models, from simple to complex nonlinear, are used to describe cellular mechanical behavior.

Conclusions:

  • A comprehensive understanding of how cells 'feel' requires studying their mechanical deformation and recovery.
  • AFM is a key technology for dissecting cellular responses to mechanical stimuli.
  • Despite advancements, a unifying theory for cell mechanics is still under development.