Structural and mechanical mapping at the nanoscale by novel high-speed multiparametric Quantitative Imaging (QI) and PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping (PF-QNM) AFM modes was compared to the classical Force Volume (FV) mapping for the case of living Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial cells. QI and PF-QNM modes give results consistent with FV for the whole cells in terms of morphology and elastic modulus, while providing higher resolution and shorter acquisition time. As an important complement, the influence of scanning parameters on elastic modulus values was explored for small 0.2(2)μm(2) central area on top of cells. The modulus decreases with the indentation depth due to the effect of the hard cell wall, while it increases vs. tip oscillation frequency, displaying viscoelastic behaviour of the living bacterial cells. The ability of different AFM modes to follow correctly the bacteria viscoelastic behaviour at high oscillation frequency was tested.

We use single cell force spectroscopy to compare elasticity, adhesion and tether extrusion on four breast cancer cell lines with an increasing invasive potential. We perform cell attachment/detachment experiments either on fibronectin or on another cell using an Atomic Force Microscope. Our study on the membrane tether formation from cancer cells show that they are easier to extrude from aggressive invasive cells. Measured elastic modulus values confirm that more invasive cells are softer. Moreover, the adhesion force increases with the invasive potential. Our results provide a mechanical signature of breast cancer cells that correlates with their invasivity.