Measuring living cells' mechanical properties: Technology could diagnose human disease, shed light on biological processes

This artist's conception depicts the use of an atomic force microscope to study the mechanical properties of cells, an innovation that might result in a new way to diagnose disease and study biological processes. Here, three types of cells are studied using the instrument: a rat fibroblast is the long slender cell in the center, an E coli bacterium is at the top right and a human red blood cell is at the lower left. The colored portions show the benefit of the new technique, representing the mechanical properties of the cells, whereas the gray portions represent what was possible using a conventional approach.

Website:   http://www.arjonline.org/engineering/american-research-journal-of-mechanical-and-automation-engineering/