Name: quantitative hardness measurement by instrumented afm-indentation
Uploaded: 2016-11-22T14:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 8 min 21 s
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantitative Hardness Measurement by Instrumented AFM-indentation at JoVE.com

A.C. is grateful to KoreaTech for financial support.

1.仪器设置和校准<ol><li> 仪器的建立 <ol><li>使用类型DT-NCLR或CDT的NCLR的僵硬金刚石涂层悬臂具有第一自由共振频率f 0,1≥180千赫，一个品质因数Q≥300和弯曲刚度ķ≥40牛顿/米。 </li><li>装入选定悬臂上通过AFM制造商提供的夹紧座。要特别小心放置的悬臂，使得其长轴垂直于AFM的快速扫描方向。另外，胶悬臂梁上用双组分环氧胶的原子力显微镜制造商提供的悬臂支架。 </li><li>安装悬臂支架上AFM头，并使用通常可用的AFM系统的光学显微镜集中于AFM悬臂。仔细检查悬臂的长轴垂直于快速扫描方向。如果没有，回去第1.1.2节。 </li><li>对准的激光束，以便它在悬臂的端部反射。监视在光电二极管上的电压总和，并进行微调，以最大限度地提高和信号。典型的和信号的值是在2伏的范围内</li><li>调整反射镜的水平和垂直的倾斜角度，以便使反射的激光点进入光电二极管，其中，对应于垂直和横向位移的电压几乎为零的中心。 </li></ol></li><li> 校准 <ol><li>执行一个频率扫描，以确定所述第一自由弯曲谐振F中的悬臂的0,1。 </li><li>确定悬臂k的弯曲刚度，根据19计算出 （1） <img alt="式（1）" src="/files/ftp_upload/54706/54706eq1.jpg" /> 其中E是杨氏模量，L为悬臂的长度，w是cantil的宽度以往，t是其厚度。为此目的，测量由光学显微镜或扫描电子显微镜的悬臂的长度和宽度具有更高的精度。从其第一自由弯曲共振频率计算悬臂的厚度˚F0,1，根据 （2） <img alt="公式（2）" src="/files/ftp_upload/54706/54706eq2.jpg" /> 其中ρ是质量密度。 </li><li>选择用于特定悬臂型的光电二极管的灵敏度的缺省值以用于在AFM中的设置菜单中的实验。通过点击按钮的方式带来悬臂尖端与参考样本接触的负荷F N = 10 NN。 </li><li>打开在AFM软件的力谱菜单和与z扫描器的相对缩回和延伸设置为50nm，并且在z扫描器缩回/延伸至0.3微米/秒。这样，力 - 距离曲线的记录会由第一与z扫描器至50纳米从样品表面离开，然后一系列相同的距离的方法和撤消的回缩。 </li><li>记录与在1.2.4建议在光滑和不符合要求的表面所设置的参数，如纳米晶金刚石或蓝宝石的力距离曲线，以避免样品变形效果。要做到这一点点击在AFM软件的力量光谱菜单中的采集按钮。 </li><li>适合的力 - 距离曲线的推斥力部分具有线性函数，在AFM中软件的校准菜单。嵌合线的逆斜率对应于光电二极管灵敏度S。通过点击执行校准按钮代替确定的值，以在AFM软件的校准菜单仪器软件的默认值。 </li></ol></li></ol> 2.样品制备注:THI测量样品小号实验由一个100-nm厚，原子级平滑的Au（111）薄通过物理气相沉积生长在云母膜构成。 <ol><li>装入样品到由双面碳胶带的装置由仪器制造商提供的磁性样品架。为了避免在测量过程中样品的漂移，装入样品一天测量之前，以便让碳胶带放松。可替代地，安装样本上银漆，通常在几分钟之内干燥的持有人。 </li><li>安装磁性样品架到X / Y扫描仪。 </li></ol> 3.测量步骤<ol><li>略设定振荡频率偏共振（在此实验中F = 190.67千赫），并在A = 20纳米注振荡幅度，这些数值是由仪器软件此特定悬臂自动设置。 在设定点 = 5纳米手动设置振荡设定点。 </li><li>画悬臂朝向使用原子力显微镜的步进电机样品表面。确保该力传感器不与样品表面碰撞。请重点悬臂粗进近过程中，并停止粗的办法之前，样品表面是在完美的焦点。 </li><li>通过点击的方式按钮自动接近力传感器。一旦振荡幅度已经达到其设定点，尖端准备扫描样品表面的形貌。 </li><li>上记录的区域范围从5×5到1×1平方微米的一系列地形图像（如果有的话，通过倾斜的x / y扫描器调整地形信号的斜率）。确保同一地区的连续图像不显示漂移的迹象，而且Z扫描器位置几乎保持不变。如果不是这种情况下，继续成像直到系统已经稳定。 </li><li>一旦系统已经稳定，平滑的1×1平方微米面积已经发现，收回的F奥尔塞通过点击回缩按钮传感器从样品表面上的几微米。 </li><li>选择在仪器菜单的力谱模式和移动力传感器预选1×1平方微米区域的中间，以10nm的力设定点。监视的z扫描器的位置，直到它保持不变。 </li><li>选择，其中心对应于预选1×1平方微米区域的中心点的2×2的网格。在500nm设置两个下相邻点之间的距离。 </li><li>设置相对扫描器的距离为0到150纳米，在300纳米/秒的速度变化，并随后缩回过相同的距离，并以相同的速度。给定悬臂的倾斜角相对于所述样品表面上，由一个垂直扫描器扩展Z，其中φ是倾斜角20期间移动由Z横向扫描器×黄褐色φ施加倾斜校正。 注:一些研究所ruments占其力光谱法或压痕模式悬臂倾斜;这是在这项工作中使用的原子力显微镜的情况。 </li><li>按下仪器软件启动按钮，开始收购AFM压痕数据。 </li><li>一旦AFM压痕测量已经完成时，缩回力传感器从样品表面几微米远。 </li><li>选择在仪器软件菜单的非接触型的AFM模式成像和重复在第3.1和3.2中描述的方法。 </li><li>执行过相同的1×1平方微米面积的扫描如第3.3节，以找到缩进的精确位置。在一个500×500纳米2表面积进一步的表面扫描，可以更详细地进行图像其余缩进。 </li></ol> 4.数据分析<ol><li> 图像处理 <ol><li>处理所记录的形貌的图像，以便使其在快速扫描目录的线基于中值差挠度。使用Gwyddion的内置函数。 </li></ol></li><li>计算投影面积使用Gwyddion的压痕分析功能缩进的页 。 </li><li>通过使用Gwyddion的尖端分析功能估算缩进的地形图像针尖形状。然后平均尖端形图像，并测量平均前端形状的半开口角α。 </li><li>通过根据13计算尖端位移δ转换力-距离曲线生效位移曲线 （3） <img alt="公式3" src="/files/ftp_upload/54706/54706eq3.jpg" /> 其中Z是相对的扫描仪的位置。 </li><li>现在，绘制力与尖端位移。所得曲线通常显示所谓弹出插件，与长度在几个100微米的范围内，对应于原子可塑性事件。使用第一个THES的Ë弹出插件，以确定在弹性限度δEL 4尖端位移。 </li><li>适合与赫兹功能21的力-位移曲线的弹性部分。 （4） <img alt="公式4" src="/files/ftp_upload/54706/54706eq4.jpg" /> 其中R是尖端半径和E&#39;*是弹性模量减小，由下式给出<img alt="公式5" src="/files/ftp_upload/54706/54706eq5.jpg" /> ，其中M S，T是样品和尖端的压痕模，分别。在这种情况下，拟合参数是<img alt="公式6" src="/files/ftp_upload/54706/54706eq6.jpg" /> 。 </li><li>延伸拟合函数成可塑性制度，以便从拟合函数和实验曲线21之间的面积差来计算塑性W¯¯ 可塑性的工作。 </li><li>根据1计算样品的硬度，2 （5） <img alt="公式7" src="/files/ftp_upload/54706/54706eq7.jpg" /> 和 （6） <img alt="式（8）" src="/files/ftp_upload/54706/54706eq8.jpg" /> 其中，F N，max是最大施加载荷，A p是在4.2节计算缩进的投影面积，α是在4.3节算出的末端的半开度角，δ 埃尔处于第一可塑性尖端位移事件， 最大 δ是最大位移尖（参见4.4节）。 </li></ol>

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The authors have nothing to disclose.

的方法，已提出了用金刚石涂覆AFM针尖上的Au（111）执行一系列压痕薄膜表面。非接触式的AFM成像和原子力显微镜压痕用相同的力传感器进行的。用于非接触成像的要求是很高的第一自由共振频率f 0,1≥180千赫和高品质因数Q≥300。在AFM压痕，要施加的垂直力在几个微牛顿的范围内，并具有高的弯曲刚度悬臂是必需的。该悬臂刀片的附加要求是，它是机械上稳定的和耐磨。这些...

For the last 150 years, hardness values have been used to characterize the mechanical behavior of materials and to predict their performance under various loading conditions. The hardness of a material describes the resistance of its surface to the penetration of a harder indenter. For metallic materials, the hardness relates to resistance to plastic flow.
Although the implementation of hardness testing has proven to be relatively easy, the yielded results have long been rather empirical, making them unable to describe the intrinsic properties of the investigated material. The empirical nature of hardness testing results has been a consequence of the use of various indenter geometries, each of which has a different established hardness scale. However, all empirical hardness scales, such as the Brinell hardness (HB) test for spherical indenters and the Vickers (HV) and Knoop (HK) hardness tests for different types of four-sided pyramids, have one thing in common: the hardness number is determined from the ratio of the applied load to the developed area of the remaining indent. In an attempt to relate the hardness of metals to their fundamental mechanical properties, the hardness measured with a spherical indenter has been defined as the ratio of the applied load to the projected area of the remaining indent. This hardness value, also known as the Meyer's hardness (H), is equal to the mean contact pressure and directly relates to the yield strength of non-work-hardening metals1. 
Hardness testing has long been limited to the macro-scale, in which case the sizes of indents have been measured by optical means. The development of instrumented indentation, where force-displacement curves are recorded, has been recognized as a valuable alternative for determining the hardness of a material, although the size of the remaining indent may be too small to be accurately imaged. In this case, the projected area of the indent is calculated from the tip displacement according to a so-called indenter-area function2. Due to this development, the analysis of the curvature of force-displacement curves and of the occurrence of distinct plasticity events in the shape of pop-ins is now widely used to study the mechanisms of plastic deformation at the micrometer scale, such as by means of nanoindentation3.
It is well accepted that the carriers of plastic deformation in metals, i.e., dislocations, operate at the nanometer scale. To understand their modes of operation at the atomic level, new experimental techniques with atomic resolution are needed. Initial investigations of atomistic plasticity events at the interfaces between nanometer-sized single asperities and single crystalline Au surfaces of different orientations have been carried out by interfacial force microscopy (IFM)4, 5. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) indentation has been applied to observe the nucleation and gliding of single dislocations in KBr(100) single crystals6, Cu(100)7, and Au(111)8, 9. There, atomistic plasticity events were observed in the shape of pop-ins, with lengths in the range of 1 &#197;. AFM indentation has also been used to measure the nano-hardness and -elasticity of gold nano-island grown on mica10. In this work, the nano-hardness was found to be smaller than the bulk value and was observed to depend linearly on the indentation area. Also, a detailed measurement protocol has been proposed to determine the hardness of hard surfaces, such as fused quartz and silicon, by AFM indentation with a diamond-tipped sapphire cantilever11. In particular, this method takes into account the non-linearity of the photo-sensitive deflection detectors for large cantilever deflection12. More recently, AFM indentation and non-contact AFM imaging have been combined to quantitatively determine the hardness and the fundamental mechanisms of plastic deformation of a Pt(111) single crystalline surface and Pt-based metallic glass13. For Pt(111), plastic deformation mechanisms at the nanometer scale were found to be consistent with the discrete mechanisms established for larger scales. Further, the nanometer-scale plastic deformation of the metallic glass was found to be not discrete, but rather continuous and highly localized around the indenting tip. These results revealed a lower size limit for metallic glasses, below which shear transformation mechanisms are not activated by indentation. AFM indentation has also been used to determine the hardness values of biological samples (such as collagen fibrils)14, polymers15, and colloidal crystals16.
In the present work, a careful experimental procedure is described that includes the force sensor selection, its calibration, the calibration of the cantilever deflection detection system, and the minimization of instrumental drift for accurate and reproducible force-distance measurements. Also, a method for the data analysis is presented that allows the extraction of force-penetration curves from recorded force-distance curves. Further representative results are shown and discussed in the light of recent findings in the field of plastic deformation of small volumes.
For this experiment, an atomic force microscope (AFM) was used. The cornerstone of an AFM is its micro-fabricated force sensor (usually a cantilever beam), with a sharp tip at the end whose radius is in the range of several nanometers. In the particular configuration of the instrument used for this experiment, the cantilever is mounted onto a piezo-electric z-scanner, while the sample to be investigated is mounted onto a piezo-electric x/y-scanner. During AFM imaging, the force sensor tip is scanned over a sample to register interaction forces with the sample surface that result in a deflection of the cantilever according to Hooke's law. The static or dynamic deflection of the cantilever can be measured with an optical beam deflection detector, consisting of a laser diode, a set of mirrors, and a photodiode that converts the cantilever deflection into a voltage. During imaging, the signal at the photodiode is controlled by a feedback loop so as to keep the interaction forces at the sample surface; this results in adjustments of the z-scanner position, which are recorded and displayed as a topography image.
Prerequisites for the experiment described below are that the piezo-electric scanners of the atomic force microscope are well-calibrated and that the instrument stays in the laboratory at a constant temperature and humidity level. The reader should be aware that, depending on the atomic force microscope model, some of the experimental procedure steps may have to be modified. In particular, all measurements are performed after setting the scanners' ranges to "small"; this function allows for the reduction of the x/y-scanner range to 5 x 5 &#181;m&#178; and the z-scanner range to 4 &#181;m, which ensures a resolution at small scales. This function is not available on all commercial AFM and is not mentioned in the remainder of the text.
For data analysis, the use of the free SPM data analysis software Gwyddion17 and the Matlab software package18 are recommended.
This protocol gives a description of the experimental procedure to be followed in order to perform instrumented hardness measurements by AFM. Since the handling of different commercial AFMs may differ from one model to the other, the reader should refer to the manual provided by the AFM manufacturer for detailed setting procedures and software information. In the following text, in order to reproduce the described experiment, it is assumed that the reader is familiar with the handling of the particular AFM used here.

<table><tbody><tr><td>AFM XE-100</td><td>Park Instruments</td><td>discontinued</td><td>Atomic force microscope</td></tr><tr><td>CDT-NCLR</td><td>NanoSensors</td><td>CDT-NCLR</td><td>Conductive diamond coated non-contact lever</td></tr><tr><td>100 nm thick Au(111) thin film on Mica</td><td>Phasis</td><td>20020011</td><td>atomically smooth gold thin film</td></tr></tbody></table>

quantitative hardness measurement by instrumented afm-indentation

In this work, a combination of amplitude-modulated non-contact atomic force microscopy and atomic force spectroscopy is applied for instrumented hardness measurements on an Au(111) surface with atomistic resolution of single plasticity events. A careful experimental procedure is described that includes the force sensor selection, its calibration, the calibration of the cantilever deflection detection system, and the minimization of instrumental drift for accurate and reproducible force-distance measurements. Also, a method for the data analysis is presented that allows the extraction of force-penetration curves from recorded force-distance curves. A typical curve displays a clear elastic deformation regime up to the first plasticity event, or pop-in, with a length in the range of one to two Burger's vectors. Later plasticity events exhibit the same magnitude. The work of plasticity is further extracted from the measurements. Finally, the hardness is determined in combination with the indentation curve using non-contact atomic force microscopy images of the remaining indents.

在这项工作中，悬臂k的弯曲刚度根据几何梁理论19计算。在这项工作中所用的特定金刚石涂覆悬臂，我们发现K = 55.69牛顿/米。需要注意的是我们忽略了金刚石涂层;金刚石涂层的厚度是一个数量级比悬臂厚度小两个数量级，因此不显著增加其弯曲刚度（虽然它的杨氏模量是比硅的显著大）。 为了避免样品?...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantitative Hardness Measurement by Instrumented AFM-indentation at JoVE.com

Quantitative Hardness Measurement by Instrumented AFM-indentation

This experimental protocol describes how atomic force microscopy can be used to measure hardness at the true nanometer scale and to detect single atomistic plasticity events.

通过仪表AFM压痕硬度定量测量

In this work, a combination of amplitude-modulated non-contact atomic force microscopy and atomic force spectroscopy is applied for instrumented hardness ...

quantitative-hardness-measurement-by-instrumented-afm-indentation

Research

JoVE Journal

Engineering

9.6K 次观看.  KoreaTech, Korea University of Technology and Education. This experimental protocol describes how atomic force microscopy can be used to measure hardness at the true nanometer scale and to detect single atomistic plasticity events. 

视频: Quantitative Hardness Measurement by Instrumented AFM-indentation

Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Living Cells Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Mechanical properties of cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) play important roles in many biological processes including stem cell differentiation, tumor formation, and wound healing. Changes in stiffness of cells and ECM are often signs of changes in cell physiology or diseases in tissues. Hence, cell stiffness is an index to evaluate the status of cell cultures. Among the multitude of methods applied to measure the stiffness of cells and tissues, micro-indentation using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) provides a way to reliably measure the stiffness of living cells. This method has been widely applied to characterize the micro-scale stiffness for a variety of materials ranging from metal surfaces to soft biological tissues and cells. The basic principle of this method is to indent a cell with an AFM tip of selected geometry and measure the applied force from the bending of the AFM cantilever. Fitting the force-indentation curve to the Hertz model for the corresponding tip geometry can give quantitative measurements of material stiffness. This paper demonstrates the procedure to characterize the stiffness of living cells using AFM. Key steps including the process of AFM calibration, force-curve acquisition, and data analysis using a MATLAB routine are demonstrated. Limitations of this method are also discussed.

This paper demonstrates a protocol to characterize the mechanical properties of living cells by means of microindentation using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM).

使用原子力显微镜测量活细胞的力学性能

Mechanical  properties of cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) play important roles in many  biological processes including stem cell differentiation, ...

科研

生物工程

Characterization Of Multi-layered Fish Scales (Atractosteus spatula) Using Nanoindentation, X-ray CT, FTIR, and SEM

The hierarchical architecture of protective biological materials such as mineralized fish scales, gastropod shells, ram&#8217;s horn, antlers, and turtle shells provides unique design principles with potentials for guiding the design of protective materials and systems in the future. Understanding the structure-property relationships for these material systems at the microscale and nanoscale where failure initiates is essential. Currently, experimental techniques such as nanoindentation, X-ray CT, and SEM provide researchers with a way to correlate the mechanical behavior with hierarchical microstructures of these material systems1-6. However, a well-defined standard procedure for specimen preparation of mineralized biomaterials is not currently available. In this study, the methods for probing spatially correlated chemical, structural, and mechanical properties of the multilayered scale of A. spatula using nanoindentation, FTIR, SEM, with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis, and X-ray CT are presented.

Characterization Of Multi-layered Fish Scales Atractosteus spatula Using Nanoindentation, X-ray CT, FTIR, and SEM

This paper presents the methods used for probing spatially correlated chemical, structural, and mechanical properties of the multilayered scale of Atractosteus spatula (A. spatula) using nanoindentation, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT). The experimental results have been used to investigate the design principles of protective biological materials.

表征多层鱼鳞（中<em&gt; Atractosteus锅铲</em&gt;）基于纳米压痕技术，X射线CT，红外光谱和SEM

The hierarchical architecture of protective biological materials such as mineralized fish scales, gastropod shells, ram&#8217;s horn, antlers, and turtle ...

Use of Atomic Force Microscopy to Measure Mechanical Properties and Turgor Pressure of Plant Cells and Plant Tissues

We present here the use of atomic force microscopy to indent plant tissues and recover its mechanical properties. Using two different microscopes in indentation mode, we show how to measure an elastic modulus and use it to evaluate cell wall mechanical properties. In addition, we also explain how to evaluate turgor pressure. The main advantages of atomic force microscopy are that it is non-invasive, relatively rapid (5~20 min), and that virtually any type of living plant tissue that is superficially flat can be analyzed without the need for treatment. The resolution can be very good, depending on the tip size and on the number of measurements per unit area. One limitation of this method is that it only gives direct access to the superficial cell layer.

Here, we present atomic force microscopy (AFM), operated as a nano- and micro-indentation tool on cells and tissues. The instrument allows the simultaneous acquisition of 3D surface topography of the sample and its mechanical properties, including cell wall Young's modulus as well as turgor pressure.

利用原子力显微镜测量植物细胞和植物组织的机械特性和Turgor压力

We present here the use of atomic force microscopy to indent plant tissues and recover its mechanical properties. Using two different microscopes in ...

发育生物学

Covalent Attachment of Single Molecules for AFM-based Force Spectroscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based single molecule force spectroscopy is an ideal tool for investigating the interactions between a single polymer and surfaces. For a true single molecule experiment, covalent attachment of the probe molecule is essential because only then can hundreds of force-extension traces with one and the same single molecule be obtained. Many traces are in turn necessary to prove that a single molecule alone is probed. Additionally, passivation is crucial for preventing unwanted interactions between the single probe molecule and the AFM cantilever tip as well as between the AFM cantilever tip and the underlying surface. The functionalization protocol presented here is reliable and can easily be applied to a variety of polymers. Characteristic single molecule events (i.e., stretches and plateaus) are detected in the force-extension traces. From these events, physical parameters such as stretching force, desorption force and desorption length can be obtained. This is particularly important for the precise investigation of stimuli-responsive systems at the single molecule level. As exemplary systems poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAM) and polystyrene (PS) are stretched and desorbed from SiOx (for PEG and PNiPAM) and from hydrophobic self-assembled monolayer surfaces (for PS) in aqueous environment.

Covalent attachment of probe molecules to atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilever tips is an essential technique for the investigation of their physical properties. This allows us to determine the stretching force, desorption force and length of polymers via AFM-based single molecule force spectroscopy with high reproducibility.

基于AFM的力光谱单分子共价附价

Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based single molecule force spectroscopy is an ideal tool for investigating the interactions between a single polymer and ...

化学

Atomic Force Microscopy Cantilever-Based Nanoindentation: Mechanical Property Measurements at the Nanoscale in Air and Fluid

An atomic force microscope (AFM) fundamentally measures the interaction between a nanoscale AFM probe tip and the sample surface. If the force applied by the probe tip and its contact area with the sample can be quantified, it is possible to determine the nanoscale mechanical properties (e.g., elastic or Young&#39;s modulus) of the surface being probed. A detailed procedure for performing quantitative AFM cantilever-based nanoindentation experiments is provided here, with representative examples of how the technique can be applied to determine the elastic moduli of a wide variety of sample types, ranging from kPa to GPa. These include live mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and nuclei in physiological buffer, resin-embedded dehydrated loblolly pine cross-sections, and Bakken shales of varying composition.
Additionally, AFM cantilever-based nanoindentation is used to probe the rupture strength (i.e., breakthrough force) of phospholipid bilayers. Important practical considerations such as method choice and development, probe selection and calibration, region of interest identification, sample heterogeneity, feature size and aspect ratio, tip wear, surface roughness, and data analysis and measurement statistics are discussed to aid proper implementation of the technique. Finally, co-localization of AFM-derived nanomechanical maps with electron microscopy techniques that provide additional information regarding elemental composition is demonstrated.

Quantifying the contact area and force applied by an atomic force microscope (AFM) probe tip to a sample surface enables nanoscale mechanical property determination. Best practices to implement AFM cantilever-based nanoindentation in air or fluid on soft and hard samples to measure elastic modulus or other nanomechanical properties are discussed.

原子力显微镜悬臂式纳米压痕:空气和流体中纳米级机械性能测量

An atomic force microscope (AFM) fundamentally measures the interaction between a nanoscale AFM probe tip and the sample surface. If the force applied by ...

工程学

Characterizing Multiscale Mechanical Properties of Brain Tissue Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Impact Indentation, and Rheometry

To design and engineer materials inspired by the properties of the brain, whether for mechanical simulants or for tissue regeneration studies, the brain tissue itself must be well characterized at various length and time scales. Like many biological tissues, brain tissue exhibits a complex, hierarchical structure. However, in contrast to most other tissues, brain is of very low mechanical stiffness, with Young&#39;s elastic moduli E on the order of 100s of Pa. This low stiffness can present challenges to experimental characterization of key mechanical properties. Here, we demonstrate several mechanical characterization techniques that have been adapted to measure the elastic and viscoelastic properties of hydrated, compliant biological materials such as brain tissue, at different length scales and loading rates. At the microscale, we conduct creep-compliance and force relaxation experiments using atomic force microscope-enabled indentation. At the mesoscale, we perform impact indentation experiments using a pendulum-based instrumented indenter. At the macroscale, we conduct parallel plate rheometry to quantify the frequency dependent shear elastic moduli. We also discuss the challenges and limitations associated with each method. Together these techniques enable an in-depth mechanical characterization of brain tissue that can be used to better understand the structure of brain and to engineer bio-inspired materials.

We present a set of techniques to characterize the viscoelastic mechanical properties of brain at the micro-, meso-, and macro-scales.

表征使用原子力显微镜，冲击压痕和流变测定脑组织的多尺度力学性能

To design and engineer materials inspired by the properties of the brain, whether for mechanical simulants or for tissue regeneration studies, the brain ...

神经科学

Micro-Mechanical Characterization of Lung Tissue Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Matrix stiffness strongly influences growth, differentiation and function of adherent cells1-3. On the macro scale the stiffness of tissues and organs within the human body span several orders of magnitude4. Much less is known about how stiffness varies spatially within tissues, and what the scope and spatial scale of stiffness changes are in disease processes that result in tissue remodeling. To better understand how changes in matrix stiffness contribute to cellular physiology in health and disease, measurements of tissue stiffness obtained at a spatial scale relevant to resident cells are needed. This is particularly true for the lung, a highly compliant and elastic tissue in which matrix remodeling is a prominent feature in diseases such as asthma, emphysema, hypertension and fibrosis. To characterize the local mechanical environment of lung parenchyma at a spatial scale relevant to resident cells, we have developed methods to directly measure the local elastic properties of fresh murine lung tissue using atomic force microscopy (AFM) microindentation. With appropriate choice of AFM indentor, cantilever, and indentation depth, these methods allow measurements of local tissue shear modulus in parallel with phase contrast and fluorescence imaging of the region of interest. Systematic sampling of tissue strips provides maps of tissue mechanical properties that reveal local spatial variations in shear modulus. Correlations between mechanical properties and underlying anatomical and pathological features illustrate how stiffness varies with matrix deposition in fibrosis. These methods can be extended to other soft tissues and disease processes to reveal how local tissue mechanical properties vary across space and disease progression.

The stiffness of the extracellular matrix strongly influences multiple behaviors of adherent cells. Matrix stiffness varies spatially throughout a tissue, and undergoes modification in various disease conditions. Here we develop methods to characterize spatial variations in stiffness in normal and fibrotic mouse lung tissue using atomic force microscopy microindentation.

微型机械的肺组织利用原子力显微镜表征

Matrix stiffness strongly influences growth, differentiation and function of adherent cells1-3.  On the macro scale the stiffness of tissues and organs ...

生物学

Application of Atomic Force Microscopy to Detect Early Osteoarthritis

Biomechanical properties of cells and tissues not only regulate their shape and function but are also crucial for maintaining their vitality. Changes in elasticity can propagate or trigger the onset of major diseases like cancer or osteoarthritis (OA). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has emerged as a strong tool to qualitatively and quantitatively characterize the biomechanical properties of specific biological target structures on a microscopic scale, measuring forces in a range from as small as the piconewton to the micronewton. Biomechanical properties are of special importance in musculoskeletal tissues, which are subjected to high levels of strain. OA as a degenerative disease of the cartilage results in the disruption of the pericellular matrix (PCM) and the spatial rearrangement of the chondrocytes embedded in their extracellular matrix (ECM). Disruption in PCM and ECM has been associated with changes in the biomechanical properties of cartilage. In the present study we used AFM to quantify these changes in relation to the specific spatial pattern changes of the chondrocytes. With each pattern change, significant changes in elasticity were observed for both the PCM and ECM. Measuring the local elasticity thus allows for drawing direct conclusions about the degree of local tissue degeneration in OA.

We present a method to investigate early osteoarthritic changes at the cellular level in articular cartilage by using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

原子力显微镜在早期骨关节炎检测中的应用

Biomechanical properties of cells and tissues not only regulate their shape and function but are also crucial for maintaining their vitality. Changes in ...

Experimental and Data Analysis Workflow for Soft Matter Nanoindentation

Nanoindentation refers to a class of experimental techniques where a micrometric force probe is used to quantify the local mechanical properties of soft biomaterials and cells. This approach has gained a central role in the fields of mechanobiology, biomaterials design&#160;and tissue engineering, to obtain a proper mechanical characterization of soft materials with a resolution comparable to the size of single cells (&#956;m). The most popular strategy to acquire such experimental data is to employ an atomic force microscope (AFM); while this instrument offers an unprecedented resolution in force (down to pN) and space (sub-nm), its usability is often limited by its complexity that prevents routine measurements of integral indicators of mechanical properties, such as Young&#39;s Modulus (E). A new generation of nanoindenters, such as those based on optical fiber sensing technology, has recently gained popularity for its ease of integration while allowing to apply sub-nN forces with &#181;m spatial resolution, therefore being suitable to probe local mechanical properties of hydrogels and cells.
In this protocol, a step-by-step guide detailing the experimental procedure to acquire nanoindentation data on hydrogels and cells using a commercially available ferrule-top optical fiber sensing nanoindenter is presented. Whereas some steps are specific to the instrument used herein, the proposed protocol can be taken as a guide for other nanoindentation devices, granted some steps are adapted according to the manufacturer&#39;s guidelines. Further, a new open-source Python software equipped with a user-friendly graphical user interface for the analysis of nanoindentation data is presented, which allows for screening of incorrectly acquired curves, data filtering, computation of the contact point through different numerical procedures, the conventional computation of E, as well as a more advanced analysis particularly suited for single-cell nanoindentation data.

The protocol presents a complete workflow for soft material nanoindentation experiments, including hydrogels and cells. First, the experimental steps to acquire force spectroscopy data are detailed; then, the analysis of such data is detailed through a newly developed open-source Python software, which is free to download from GitHub.

软物质纳米压痕的实验和数据分析工作流程

Nanoindentation refers to a class of experimental techniques where a micrometric force probe is used to quantify the local mechanical properties of soft ...

Addressing Practical Issues in Atomic Force Microscopy-Based Micro-Indentation on Human Articular Cartilage Explants

Without a doubt, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is currently one of the most powerful and useful techniques to assess micro and even nano-cues in the biological field. However, as with any other microscopic approach, methodological challenges can arise. In particular, the characteristics of the sample, sample preparation, type of instrument, and indentation probe can lead to unwanted artifacts. In this protocol, we exemplify these emerging issues on healthy as well as osteoarthritic articular cartilage explants. To this end, we first show via a step-by-step approach how to generate, grade, and visually classify ex vivo articular cartilage discs according to different stages of degeneration by means of large 2D mosaic fluorescence imaging of the whole tissue explants. The major strength of the ex vivo model is that it comprises aged, native, human cartilage that allows the investigation of osteoarthritis-related changes from early onset to progression. In addition, common pitfalls in tissue preparation, as well as the actual AFM procedure together with the subsequent data analysis, are also presented. We show how basic but crucial steps such as sample preparation and processing, topographic sample characteristics caused by advanced degeneration, and sample-tip interaction can impact data acquisition. We also subject to scrutiny the most common problems in AFM and describe, where possible, how to overcome them. Knowledge of these limitations is of the utmost importance for correct data acquisition, interpretation, and, ultimately, the embedding of findings into a broad scientific context.

We present a step-by-step approach to identify and address the most common problems associated with atomic force microscopy micro-indentations. We exemplify the emerging problems on native human articular cartilage explants characterized by various degrees of osteoarthritis-driven degeneration.

基于原子力显微镜的人关节软骨外植体微压痕研究的实际问题

Without a doubt, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is currently one of the most powerful and useful techniques to assess micro and even nano-cues in the ...