Micromanipulation measurements of biological materials

Micromanipulation enables the mechanical properties of microscopic biological particles to be measured in particular cells. It is capable of measurements at high deformations, including up to cell bursting. Particles as small as 1 mu m, with breaking forces as low as 1 mu N, can be characterised. The method can be enhanced by mechanical modelling to allow intrinsic mechanical properties such as the cell wall elastic modulus to be estimated. Present and potential applications include studying yeast and bacterial cell disruption, mechanical damage to animal cells in suspension cultures and filamentous microorganisms in submerged fermentations, plant cell behaviour in food processing, and flocculation processes.