To know mechanical environment in a tissue at a cellular level

What is it about?

We reviewed the method to measure the mechanical properties of smooth muscle cells under physiological deformation.

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Why is it important?

Knowledge on the mechanical properties of cells under physiologically deformed condition, i.e., under large deformation is important to know the microscopic mechanical environment in tissues. However, such properties cannot be measured in conventional indentation test with an atomic force microscope, because it can only measure mechanical properties under small deformation. Mechanical properties under large deformation can be measured with tensile test and thus it is important.