Micropipette aspiration and subcellular biophysics

Subcellular structures adopt unique biophysical properties to suit their specific functions. Quantification of such properties is an indispensable part of understanding the structure-function relationship. In this chapter, we focus on the quantitative techniques with cellular and subcellular capacity that are based on micropipette aspiration. These techniques all include as an essential component a micrometer-size pipette with controlled inner suction pressure. They are widely used for easy manipulation of single live cells and their versatile applicability. Here, we review major techniques of this type, describing their technical details, unique capabilities, and key applications.