The mechanical properties of seven types of silicone methacrylate microparticles prepared by solution polymerization with a Pickering emulsifier were investigated by Atomic Force Microscope force displacement curves acquired in air with the Colloidal Probe Technique, i.e., with spherical SiO2 particles of known radius glued on tipless cantilevers. The deformation curves derived from the force displacement curves were fitted with Hertz equation for the contact between two spherical particles, which lead to the determination of the elastic modulus of the samples. The performed measurements and the analysis provide quite exact values of the elastic modulus of all investigated polymer particles. Moreover, the results of the measurements were repeatable over large time intervals, also with different experimental setups. The influence of the sample preparation (polymerization method, cross-linking density of the polymer, and thickness of the external shell of the Pickering emulsifier) is discussed as well. The elastic moduli correlate with the cross-linking density (from 2 MPa for low cross-linking density up to 100-130 MPa for medium cross-linking density), whereas the thickness of the external shell formed by the Pickering emulsifier has no measurable influence on the mechanical properties of the microparticles. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.