Atomic force microscopy-based force measurements on animal cells and tissues.

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Cells respond to both biochemical and mechanical signals.
• Mechanical signaling plays a crucial role in various biological processes.
• Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has emerged as a key technology for studying cellular mechanics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce applications of AFM-based force measurements.
• To provide guidance on experimental setup, sample preparation, data acquisition, and analysis.
• To highlight the application of AFM in investigating nervous system mechanics.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing atomic force microscopy (AFM) for force measurements.
• Integrating AFM with other microscopy techniques.
• Detailed description of experimental procedures and data analysis.

Main Results:

• AFM provides insights into the mechanical properties and interactions of biological samples.
• AFM studies have elucidated the role of mechanical signaling in biological processes.
• AFM enables the study of molecular, cellular, and tissue mechanics.

Conclusions:

• AFM is a versatile tool for understanding mechanical signaling in biological systems.
• AFM, especially when combined with other techniques, offers novel insights into mechanics.
• The chapter focuses on the utility of AFM in exploring nervous system mechanics.