Scientists Develop New Research Tool on Cell Mechanics

A team of researchers at Purdue University and University of Oxford developed a new system that analyzes the mechanical properties of living cells. They used an instrument called atomic force microscope which has a tiny vibrating probe that provides information about materials and surfaces on the scale of nanometers. Through this new technique, researchers will be able to study how cells adhere to tissues; how cells move and change shape; how cancer cells evolve during metastasis; and how cells respond to mechanical stimuli needed for production of proteins.

"There's been a growing realization of the role of mechanics in cell biology and indeed a lot of effort in building models to explain how cells feel, respond and communicate mechanically both in health and disease," said Sonia Contera, one of the authors of the study. "With this paper, we provide a tool to start addressing some of these questions quantitatively: This is a big step."

This new technology can be used in the future in human disease diagnosis and understanding of biological processes.

Read the media release at http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/research/2011/111121RamanCells.html.