AFM methods for studying the morphology and micromechanical properties of the membrane of human buccal epithelium cell

Using AFM methods in air under normal conditions in a wide range of local force effects ([Formula: see text] < 40 μN) the relief, functional micromechanical properties (elasticity coefficient [Formula: see text] , Young’s modulus [Formula: see text] , elastic [Formula: see text] and plastic [Formula: see text] deformations) and adhesive properties (work [Formula: see text] of adhesive forces [Formula: see text] ) of the membranes of living adult cells of human buccal epithelium were studied in the presence of a protective layer < 100 nm of buffer solution that prevented the cells from drying. Almost all geometric and functional characteristics of the membrane in the local approximation at the micro- and nanolevels are affected by size effects and obey the laws of fractal geometry. The Brownian multifractal relief of the membrane is characterized by dimension [Formula: see text] < 2.56 and irregularities < 500 nm vertically and < 2 μm horizontally. Its response to elastic (≤ 6 nN), active (6–21 nN), or passive (> 21 nN) stimulation ([Formula: see text] ) is a non-trivial selective process and exhibits a correspondingly elastic ([Formula: see text] 67.4 N/m), active ([Formula: see text] 80.2 N/m) and passive ([Formula: see text] 84.5 N/m) responses. [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] depend on [Formula: see text] . Having undergone slight plastic deformations [Formula: see text] < 300 nm, the membrane is capable of restoring its shape. We mapped ([Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text] = 2.56; [Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text] = 2.68; [Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text] = 2.42, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] ) indicating its complex cavernous structure.