近年來隨著組織工程與神經科學的興起，神經再生的研究已不再限於理論的階段而進入了實際的應用。其中的關鍵在於如何引導神經元往正確方向再生，且期待此再生程序能夠快速完成。雖已發展出輔助的神經導管以及許多促進再生的藥物，但是針對神經細胞的機械特性及外在物理性刺激對神經再生影響的研究仍在多方發展中。
本研究著眼於細胞力學的領域，利用原子力顯微鏡建立一套能準確量測到細胞力學特性的實驗方法，能夠估測細胞的機械特性，進而評估細胞整體力學模型。傳統計算細胞表面楊氏係數由赫茲模型(Hertz model)得到，但其方法存在著一些問題。本研究為了探討神經再生模型，量測的試樣為PC12類神經細胞，加入神經生長因子(nerve growth factor)，使其誘導出神經軸突，首先對神經細胞本體以廣泛、密集範圍的單點壓痕量測，由非赫茲方法(Non-Hertzian Approach)計算各區域的表面楊氏係數的大小與分布變化性，將結果與文獻比較，以提高本實驗方法的可信度，之後對神經軸突廣泛範圍壓痕測試，得到其各部份的機械特性，希望其結果能提供建立周邊神經再生理論模型所需要的資料。
實驗結果與細胞生物學理論一致，所量測的細胞各區域表面楊氏係數雖略大於文獻中的記載，但亦證明此方法有效且可信，後續研究將可能提供神經細胞機械性質量測一個有效的方法。

In recent years, the fast progress of tissue engineering and neuro-science enhances the research of nerve regeneration. In the research of nerve regeneration process, morphological change and biochemical reaction had been investigated widely, but the mechanical properties and effects of physical stimulations to growth of neural cells remains unclear.
In this study, an atomic force microscopy was employed to develop accurate technique for measuring the mechanical properties of living cells and to build the mechanical model of the whole cell.
The existing method of analyzing AFM indentation data is based on a simplified Hertz theory that requires unrealistic assumptions about cell indentation experiment. To investigate the regeneration of Neuron-like PC12 cells were cultivated and facilitated by nerve growth factor to induce axon. Single-point indentations on large and small region of PC12 cell body were performed and a non-Hertzian approach was adopted to calculate the distribution of apparent Young’s modulus. A large range indentation on axon was conducted the apparent Young’s modulus was calculated by the same method. A biomechanical model of PC12 cell was built. Experimental results revealed that the distribution of apparent Young’s modulus is consistent with the structure of the PC12 cell although the apparent Young’s moduli were slightly larger than the data found in the literature. The non-Hertzian method may be an effective and reliable method for estimating the mechanical properties of the cell.

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