Current status and perspectives in atomic force microscopy-based identification of cellular transformation

Area of Science:

• Biophysics and Cellular Mechanics
• Cancer Biology and Therapeutics
• Biomedical Engineering and Instrumentation

Background:

• Cellular biomechanics and extracellular microenvironment dynamics are crucial for tissue transformation.
• Understanding the transition from benign to cancerous phenotypes requires analyzing cell and surrounding dynamics.
• Targeted translational therapies can be developed by understanding these complex cellular interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based technology.
• To review AFM applications in identifying cellular progression to a cancerous phenotype.
• To offer insights into advancements needed for user-controlled tools for early cancer cell transformation detection.

Main Methods:

• Review of atomic force microscopy (AFM) principles and techniques.
• Analysis of published studies on AFM for cellular biomechanical characterization.
• Discussion of current limitations and future directions for AFM in cancer research.

Main Results:

• AFM can probe cellular mechanical properties, revealing changes associated with cancerous transformation.
• The extracellular microenvironment's influence on cell biomechanics can be assessed using AFM.
• Current AFM technology shows promise for distinguishing between normal and cancerous cell phenotypes.

Conclusions:

• AFM is a valuable tool for investigating cell biomechanics and identifying cancer progression.
• Further development of user-controlled AFM systems is essential for early cancer detection.
• Improved AFM tools could lead to enhanced therapeutic strategies and better patient outcomes.