Fig. 3: AFM nanoindentation of corneocytes.

a Schematic steps used to measure the mechanical properties of corneocytes that illustrate the effect of the compliance of the supporting substrate. The cells were initially adhered to Sellotape (soft substrate) and b were then extracted to a glass slide (stiff substrate) using xylene to dissolve the adhesive. c and d correspond to the surface topography of a corneocyte before and after indentation of cells on a glass slide with a force of 2 µN. Scale bar = 500 nm. e The line profiles from (c) and (d) with an inset showing a zoomed topographical AFM image from (d) of the permanent indent remaining on the surface of the cell. Inset scale bar = 200 nm.