ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF LIVING FIBROBLASTS AS IMAGED USING FORCE MODULATION MODE IN ATOMIC-FORCE MICROSCOPY

Using the force modulation mode in atomic force microscopy, we measure d elastic properties of living mouse fibroblasts (NIH3T3) in a culture medium, The topographic images of the cellular surface and the corres ponding elastic images of the cellular surface were able to be capture d simultaneously with high spatial resolution, The consecutive images were useful for examining time-dependent changes in the cellular surfa ce, We observed that some cells continued to shrink and change their s oftness for 2 hours, Then the force modulation mode in atomic force mi croscopy shows potential use in analyzing time-dependent regional elas tic properties of living cells with high spatial resolution.