Strain-dependent elastography of cancer cells reveals heterogeneity and stiffening due to attachment.

ABSTRACT: Because cells vary in thickness and in biomechanical properties, the use of a constant force trigger during atomic force microscopy (AFM) stiffness mapping produces a varied nominal strain that can obfuscate the comparison of local material properties. In this study, we measured the biomechanical spatial heterogeneity of ovarian and breast cancer cells by using an indentation-dependent pointwise Hertzian method. Force curves and surface topography were used together to determine cell stiffness as a function of nominal strain. By recording stiffness at a particular strain, it may be possible to improve comparison of the material properties of cells and produce higher contrast representations of cell mechanical properties. Defining a linear region of elasticity that corresponds to a modest n

SUBMITTER: Xu W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12425452 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature