Synchronization enhanced force microscopy for clinical tumor tissue mechanical characterization

The mechanical properties of biological tissues and cells are novel marks reflecting their physiological and pathological states. Conventional techniques for mechanical measurements are often limited by bulkiness or ex vivo constraints. In this paper, we developed an all-silicon resonant MEMS force sensor. The sensor uses electromagnetic excitation to achieve stable operation in atmospheric conditions, and integrates a high-Q resonator synchronization enhanced technique. This design improves the resolution of the sensor and reduces detection noise without sensitivity attenuation. Surface Young's modulus tests were conducted on human gastric tissues. We revealed the mechanical differences among normal, tumor and fibrotic tissues which offers mechanical indicators for distinguishing these morphologically similar tissues in clinical scenarios. Notably, the measurement process is gentle and non-destructive, ensuring the integrity of tissue samples. This sensor provides a high-precision, miniaturized tool for tissue mechanical characterization, which can be used for navigation in minimally invasive gastric cancer surgery.