Local elastic properties of cells studied by SFM

Scanning force microscopy SFM.can be used in nano-indentation experiments for very soft samples of elastic, organic materials. The present paper describes the methodology of device calibration and Young’s moduli determination, to evaluate the elastic properties of living cells in their culture conditions. Two similar lines of normal cells Hu609.and cancerous ones T24.were measured. A significant difference in Young’s modulus for normal and cancerous cells was detected. q1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved