Figure 2.

Various methods of sampling potential mechanical biomarkers in preimplantation embryos. (A) Depiction of atomic force microscopy to determine the changing stiffness values of the zona pellucida (ZP) during preimplantation development. (B) Simple schematic of an automated micropipette aspirator to gauge viscoelastic properties of embryos. (C) Schematic portraying the persistence of the microinjection funnel left by a micropipette. This technique was used to make measurements of oocyte cytoplasmic viscosity. (D) Deformable hydrogel assay used for measuring the internal pressure within preimplantation embryos.