Electron beam induced fine virtual electrode for mechanical strain microscopy of living cell

[Display omitted] •Low-invasive and fine virtual electrode is generated using focued low energy electron beam (EB).•The virtual electode induecs local detachment of nanopartilces, and induced retraction of myoblast cell due to prestress.•Distribution of prestressed mechanical strain of the cell were visualied and this indicated the elastic strain energy was stored arownd the nucleus and the lamellipodium.•The spatial resolution of the viratual electrode was ∼120-nm wide, and the repultion force was affected in