A versatile nanomechanical tester ... the AFM

Single cell nanomechanics and manipulation is not a trivial task. Among the available techniques to address and measure nanomechanical parameters, the most versatile is the atomic force microscope. The microscope uses a very sharp “tip” to scan or test the desired sample’s surface. Soon after its invention, it became the most reliable and accurate nanoforce-tool in the research of cellular bio-nanomechanics, due to the ability to operate in liquid environment and at human body temperature. Nevertheless, the ability of nanometer scale mechanical manipulation and measurement in a liquid environment on living cells is an absolute advantage compared to conventional cellular imaging techniques. It has two basic operation modes, one being the simple contact mode: the sharp tip is simply feels the surface of the desired specimen. Here is a short video of how it works.