Quantify the effect of docetaxel with different concentration on cell mechanical properties using atomic force microscopy

Mechanical properties of cells have been recognized as a biomarker for indicating cellular cytoskeletal organization. On the reason that chemical treatments can lead to rearrangements of cell cytoskeletal, characterization of cellular mechanical properties can provides an insightful approach to evaluate the effects of chemical treatments on cancer cells. The appearance of atomic force microscope (AFM) provides a powerful tool for detecting the nanoscale physiological activity of single living cell. In this paper, the detailed changes of cellular morphology and mechanical properties after docetaxel (DCT) treatment were quantified using AFM. The results showed that the Young’s modulus of the cells after DCT treatment was larger than the untreated cells and the adhesion of the treated cell was lower than before. In addition, these changes was related to the chemical concentration. These results thus provide a unique idea into the effects of chemical on individual cells.