Thermo-mechanical properties of the cell surface assessed by atomic force microscopy

► We study the frictional properties of air-dried cell surface by AFM. ► AFM-assessed friction force for the dried cell surface increases at T>Tg. ► Tg for erythrocyte samples is lower than that for thymocyte ones. ► We examine the effects of glutaraldehyde and ONOO- on cell frictional properties.