Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2025
10:35
Measuring the Stiffness of Ex Vivo Mouse Aortas Using Atomic Force Microscopy
Published on: October 19, 2016
10.5K
Protocol for measuring membrane elasticity of mouse cardiomyocytes using atomic force microscopy.
Andrés David Morales Maldonado1, Daphne Agostina Diloretto2, Valeriy Timofeyev2
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
STAR Protocols
|April 13, 2025
Summary
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides a method to measure single-cell mechanics. This study details using AFM to quantify the membrane mechanical properties of mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Cellular mechanics are crucial for understanding cell function.
- Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a key technique for single-cell mechanical analysis.
- Cardiomyocytes possess unique mechanical properties essential for heart function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a detailed protocol for measuring the mechanical properties of cardiomyocyte membranes using AFM.
- To quantify the membrane Young's moduli of mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes.
- To enhance understanding of cardiomyocyte biomechanics.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes.
- Preparation, modification, and calibration of AFM cantilevers.
- Measurement of force-deformation profiles to determine membrane Young's moduli.
Main Results:
- A standardized protocol for AFM-based measurement of cardiomyocyte membrane mechanics was established.
- Quantification of membrane Young's moduli for mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes was achieved.
- The study provides insights into the mechanical characteristics of these cells.
Conclusions:
- AFM is a suitable technique for assessing cardiomyocyte membrane mechanics.
- The developed protocol facilitates reproducible mechanical property measurements.
- This research contributes to the understanding of cardiac cell biomechanics.
