MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE LUNG AND BREAST CANCEROUS CELLS USING ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPE

Abstract

Cell deformation and changes in mechanical properties, such as adhesion, elasticity modulus, and height, are some of the most significant signs of cancer. This paper investigates the mechanical parameters of normal and cancerous cells in the breast and lungs. The lung’s normal cell studied is MRC-5, and the cancerous ones include A-549, COR-L105, and CALU-6. MCF-10A is the normal breast cell studied, and MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-231, and ZR-75-1 are cancerous. The mechanical specifications and cellular topography were obtained using nanoindentation by the atomic force microscope (AFM). The elasticity modulus and adhesion amounts for at least 96 indents were computed by mathematical averaging for each cell line in two different modes. The results indicate that cancer decreases the cells’ elasticity modulus by one-tenth in the lung and lower than one-third in breast cells. Cancer cells are up to several hundred times more adhesive than normal cells. In addition, a cancerous cell’s height is greater than normal cells. This study’s elastic modules are compared to the other references. Overall, the results are compatible.