Fig. 3.

(A) Microfluidics can be used to control shear flow of platelets to study platelet aggregation using small sample volumes. (B) Microfluidic systems can mimic the hemodynamic and geometric environment of the microvasculature. Stiffer cells move more slowly through the system, and can occlude channels. (C) Atomic force microscopy gives detailed measurements of cell stiffness, and can be used to locally probe molecular interactions. For non-adherent cells, some physical or chemical trap is required to hold the cell in place during probing. (D) Attaching dielectric spheres to cells and using them in conjunction with an optical trap enable cell mechanical measurements to be made by stretching the cells and measuring the required force needed for a given deformation.