A method for analyzing AFM force mapping data obtained from soft tissue cryosections

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Materials Science
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is crucial for evaluating biological sample mechanics.
• Interpreting AFM data from heterogeneous whole tissues presents significant challenges.
• Robust mechanical property estimation requires advanced analytical approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an AFM force mapping and data analysis pipeline.
• To characterize the mechanical properties of cryosectioned soft tissues.
• To enhance the reliability of AFM measurements in complex biological samples.

Main Methods:

• Utilized AFM force mapping on cryosectioned soft tissues.
• Applied a data analysis pipeline including repeated measurements and outlier exclusion.
• Employed log-normal data transformation for enhanced confidence in measurements.

Main Results:

• Successfully characterized mechanical properties of mouse optic nerve head, rat trabecular meshwork, cornea, and sclera.
• Demonstrated that repeated measurements, outlier exclusion, and log-normal transformation increase confidence in AFM data.
• Validated the pipeline's effectiveness for heterogeneous soft tissue analysis.

Conclusions:

• The developed AFM pipeline provides robust estimates of soft tissue mechanical properties.
• The methodology is broadly applicable to cryosectioned soft tissues.
• This approach enhances the utility of AFM in biological and materials science research.