ABSTRACT
The aggregation can be quantitated by measurement of the fractional coverage of the spherical “test” surface at equilibrium. In the mechanical tests of cell or vesicle deformability, the deformation of a single cell or vesicle is observed in response to the application of either suction pressure or compression against the platinum beam. When cells are deformed by extension and folding over a very small time increment, large viscous forces oppose the deformation. The key elements of the micromechanical test apparatus are the microscope-micromanipulation system, and optical detection and video recording components. With this general system, it is possible to carry out many types of single cell experiments, such as measurement of viscoelastic properties of blood cells and lipid bilayer vesicles, and measurement of cell-cell and vesicle-vesicle adhesivity properties. In all experiments, a cell or membrane capsule acts as an intermediate body between the contact zone and the transducer that is used to measure and apply the force.
