Micromanipulation measurements of biological materials

Micromanipulation enables the mechanical properties of microscopic biologic al particles to be measured in particular cells. It is capable of measureme nts at high deformations, including up to cell bursting. Particles as small as 1 mu m, with breaking forces as low as 1 mu N, can be characterised. Th e method can be enhanced by mechanical modelling to allow intrinsic mechani cal properties such as the cell wall elastic modulus to be estimated. Prese nt and potential applications include studying yeast and bacterial cell dis ruption, mechanical damage to animal cells in suspension cultures and filam entous microorganisms in submerged fermentations, plant cell behaviour in f ood processing, and flocculation processes.