In the past two decades, cell biomechanics has become an emerging field owing to a strong link between mechanical properties and alterations observed in various pathologies. Despite substantial evidence showing the feasibility of AFM to identify cells with altered elastic and adhesive properties, the use of this technique as a complementary diagnostic method still remains controversial. This is primarily due to the relatively high complexity of the apparatus, experiment and data analysis, and the lack of a basis for rapid verification of results.
Measurement of living cells by AFM is not an easy task, but this book aims to facilitate AFM measurements and data analysis. It is designed to be a practical textbook that teaches, in a conceived manner, how to assess the mechanical characteristics of living, individual cells by AFM. Following a step-by-step approach, it introduces the methodology of measurements in the case of both determination of elastic properties and quantification of adhesive properties.
About the Author:
Małgorzata Lekka graduated from Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland. She works at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences. In 1998, she presented the first atomic force microscopy (AFM) results proving different mechanical properties of normal and cancerous cells. At present, she is head of the Laboratory of Biophysical Microstructures.
Key Features:
- Discusses practical aspects in AFM measurements of living cells
- Practical and user-friendly textbook that can be used to teach students of physics, chemistry, and biology, studying biological aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, biophysics, and cellular biomechanics
- Includes many examples from the author’s research work
