Nano Indentation
Nano Indentation - Related Videos
08:21
Quantitative Hardness Measurement by Instrumented AFM-indentation
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Cited by 6 •
2016
This experimental protocol describes how atomic force microscopy can be used to measure hardness at the true nanometer scale and to detect single atomistic plasticity events.
11:19
Characterizing Multiscale Mechanical Properties of Brain Tissue Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Impact Indentation, and Rheometry
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Cited by 36 •
2016
We present a set of techniques to characterize the viscoelastic mechanical properties of brain at the micro-, meso-, and macro-scales.
07:07
Biomechanical Characterization of Human Soft Tissues Using Indentation and Tensile Testing
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Cited by 111 •
2016
Tissue biomechanics is important for maintaining cell shape and function and for determining phenotype. This report demonstrates non-destructive mechanical protocols for characterizing elastic and viscoelastic properties of human soft tissues, which can be directly applied to tissue-engineered substrates to allow a close matching of engineered materials to native tissue.
11:56
Fluorescence Imaging with One-nanometer Accuracy (FIONA)
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Cited by 11 •
2014
Single fluorophores can be localized with nanometer precision using FIONA. Here a summary of the FIONA technique is reported, and how to carry out FIONA experiments is described.
02:44
Impact Indentation for Assessing the Mechanical Properties of a Mouse Brain Tissue
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2025
Source: Canovic, E. P., et. al., Characterizing Multiscale Mechanical Properties of Brain Tissue Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Impact Indentation, and Rheometry. J. Vis. Exp. (2016)The video demonstrates using impact indentation to measure the mechanical properties of a hydrated mouse brain tissue, including stiffness, energy dissipation, and damping, through probe displacement and velocity analysis.
FAQs
The instrument tracks penetration depth as force or displacement changes during loading and unloading. The resulting curves provide the basis for analyzing how strongly a sample resists deformation and how it responds mechanically during the test. From this analysis, researchers can obtain hardness, elastic modulus, and stiffness, allowing localized mechanical comparison among biological or engineered samples.
Nanoindentation can use either a sharp or rounded indenter, providing flexibility for localized mechanical testing of biomaterials, cells, tissues, and interfaces. The selected geometry determines how the controlled contact is made with the sample, while the instrument still records penetration depth under force or displacement. This supports mechanical assessment across different bioengineering materials and structures.
These measurements describe related but distinct aspects of mechanical behavior. Hardness represents resistance to the indentation response, elastic modulus characterizes elastic behavior, and stiffness describes resistance to deformation in the tested interaction. Because loading and unloading data support their analysis, nanoindentation can provide a more complete mechanical profile than a single qualitative observation of surface response.
The technique can reveal mechanical differences associated with material type, biological condition, or fabrication history. In bioengineering studies, measurements may compare natural with engineered tissues and examine how processing or disease changes mechanical behavior. Such comparisons help connect localized mechanical properties with changes in tissue substitutes, biomaterials, or biological interfaces.
A test begins by positioning the indenter over the selected region of the sample. The instrument then applies a controlled force or displacement while the indenter penetrates the material and the system records depth. Researchers analyze the resulting loading and unloading curves to calculate mechanical properties, enabling localized characterization of the chosen biological or engineered area.
Researchers use localized measurements to evaluate coatings, scaffolds, biomaterials, cells, tissues, and biological interfaces. Comparing their hardness, elastic modulus, or stiffness can show whether processing produces the intended mechanical behavior or whether engineered tissue resembles its natural counterpart. These results support biomaterial design and the development of mechanically compatible medical devices.