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Updated: Feb 19, 2026

Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Living Cells Using Atomic Force Microscopy
Published on: June 27, 2013
Mechanical Properties of the Cytoskeleton and Cells
Adrian F Pegoraro1, Paul Janmey2, David A Weitz1
1Department of Physics and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
Abstract:
SUMMARYThe cytoskeleton is the major mechanical structure of the cell; it is a complex, dynamic biopolymer network comprising microtubules, actin, and intermediate filaments. Both the individual filaments and the entire network are not simple elastic solids but are instead highly nonlinear structures. Appreciating the mechanics of biopolymer networks is key to understanding the mechanics of cells. Here, we review the mechanical properties of cytoskeletal polymers and discuss the implications for the behavior of cells.
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