Fractal Analysis of Cancer Cell Surface

Igor Sokolov; Maxim E Dokukin

doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-6646-2_13

Fractal Analysis of Cancer Cell Surface

Methods Mol Biol. 2017:1530:229-245. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6646-2_13.

Authors

Igor Sokolov^{1

2

3}, Maxim E Dokukin⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, 177 College Ave., Medford, MA, 02155, USA. Igor.sokolov@tufts.edu.
² Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA. Igor.sokolov@tufts.edu.
³ Department of Physics, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA. Igor.sokolov@tufts.edu.
⁴ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, 177 College Ave., Medford, MA, 02155, USA.

PMID: 28150205
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6646-2_13

Abstract

Fractal analysis of the cell surface is a rather sensitive method which has been recently introduced to characterize cell progression toward cancer. The surface of fixed and freeze-dried cells is imaged with atomic force microscopy (AFM) modality in ambient conditions. Here we describe the method to perform the fractal analysis specifically developed for the AFM images. Technical details, potential difficulties, points of special attention are described.

Keywords: Cancer progression; Fractal analysis; Physics of cancer.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Algorithms
Cell Membrane / ultrastructure*
Fractals*
Humans
Microscopy, Atomic Force*
Neoplasms / pathology*
Neoplasms / ultrastructure*
Surface Properties