Protocol for evaluating extracellular matrix stiffness post-decellularization of triple-negative breast cancer cells using atomic force microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a versatile and widely used technique in the field of current biomedical research. Here, we present a protocol for measuring the stiffness property of extracellular matrix (ECM) gel, enriched by breast cancer cells. We describe steps for applying the PeakForce quantitative nanomechanics technique after scoring the elastic modulus and capturing topology images. This protocol has implications for determining the contribution of cancer cells in modulating the stiffness of artificial ECM gel. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Adhikari et al.¹.