Diagnostics of Living Cells under an Atomic Force Microscope Using a Submicron Spherical Probe with a Calibrated Radius of Curvature

The relief and mechanical elasticity of living cells from lines A549 and L41 are studied. To minimize the destructive effect of the atomic force microscope on the cell and improve the measuring accuracy of the elasticity module, special probes with a single colloid amorphous SiO2 nanogranule at their tips are employed. A procedure for preparing such probes is demonstrated.