Changes in mechanical properties of cells are closely related to a variety of diseases. As an advanced technology on the micro/nano scale, atomic force microscopy is the most suitable tool for information acquisition of living cells in human body fluids. AFMs are able to measure and characterize the mechanical properties of cells which can be used as effective markers to distinguish between different cell types and cells in different states (benign or cancerous). Therefore, they can be employed to obtain additional information to that obtained via the traditional biochemistry methods for better identifying and diagnosing cancer cells for humans, proposing better treatment methods and prognosis, and unravelling the pathogenesis of the disease. In this report, we review the use of AFMs in cancerous tissues, organs, and cancer cells cultured in vitro to obtain cellular mechanical properties, demonstrate and summarize the results of AFMs in cancer biology, and look forward to possible future applications and the direction of development.
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September 2020
Review Article|
September 04 2020
Application of atomic force microscope in diagnosis of single cancer cells
Zhengcheng Lu;
Zhengcheng Lu
1
JR3CN and IRAC, University of Bedfordshire
, Luton LU1 3JU, United Kingdom
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Zuobin Wang
;
Zuobin Wang
a)
1
JR3CN and IRAC, University of Bedfordshire
, Luton LU1 3JU, United Kingdom
2
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Cross-Scale Micro and Nano Manufacturing, Changchun University of Science and Technology
, Changchun 130022, China
3
International Research Centre for Nano Handling and Manufacturing of China, Changchun University of Science and Technology
, Changchun 130022, China
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Biomicrofluidics 14, 051501 (2020)
Article history
Received:
July 16 2020
Accepted:
August 25 2020
Citation
Zhengcheng Lu, Zuobin Wang, Dayou Li; Application of atomic force microscope in diagnosis of single cancer cells. Biomicrofluidics 1 September 2020; 14 (5): 051501. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0021592
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