Yeast cells located on the cantilever surface.

<p>Left panel–a cluster of 5 yeast cell near the free end of the cantilever. Right panel–magnification of the square from the left panel showing the graphical determination of a cell distance from the edge of the cantilever.</p

Cantilever dimensions were obtained by analyzing the line profiles on the cantilever images.

<p>A) Image of the cantilever with a superimposed line used to make the profile. B) Obtained intensity profile along a marked line. C) Derivative of intensity profile curve from Graph B. The Gauss function was fitted to the obtained peaks (line). The distance between the peak positions was interpreted as being the cantilever width. To estimate cantilever length the same procedure was performed.</p

Working principle of the cantilever-based optomechanical sensor.

<p>The cantilever bending amplitude or oscillation frequency is detected by a laser-based optical system. The light from laser (A) on being deflected from the oscillating cantilever (B) falls on PSD (C) where the signal is transformed into the electronic form. Subsequently signal is sent to the computer where its magnitude is displayed on the screen.</p

Comparison of results with and without taking into account an individual cell position along the cantilever.

<p>Box charts for an average single cell mass determination. (I)—cells positions are taken into account and (II)—assuming uniform cell distribution. 25-50-75 percent of results are marked by boxes, the minimum and maximum values are marked by whiskers. The small squares show the average value of each series.</p

Comparison of results with and without taking into account an individual cell position along the cantilever.

<p>Box charts for an average single cell mass determination. (I)—cells positions are taken into account and (II)—assuming uniform cell distribution. 25-50-75 percent of results are marked by boxes, the minimum and maximum values are marked by whiskers. The small squares show the average value of each series.</p

Change in the lyophilized yeast cell mass after a 6-month period of refrigerated storage.

<p>A) Initial yeast cell mass value and B) after 6 months of storage.</p

The normalized frequency response of the cantilever as a function of cantilever length.

<p>A) assuming uniform cell distribution (or the whole deposited mass on the tip of the cantilever). B) position of every deposited cell taken into consideration. In part A, every average frequency shift per deposited cell was normalized to the maximum value obtained in all experiments. In part B, the contribution of each cell to the frequency shift was taken into account by function U(z).</p