Atomic Force Microscopy
From molecules to cells, AFM is used to probe their nanoscale topography and mechanical properties.
AFM is a scanning probe microscopy technique. It uses intermolecular and surface forces to resolve topography down to the nanometer scale. A basic representation of a standard AFM setup is as follows:
As the AFM tip moves across a surface, a laser beam deflection system measures the changes in height. This can be used to build a topographic image of the surface.
In addition, forces can be measured as the AFM tip indents the sample. Using contact mechanics models, mechanical properties (e.g., the elastic modulus) can be extracted, and 2D maps of mechanical properties can be obtained.
Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy (SMFS)
SMFS measures the mechanical strength of inter-molecular or intra-molecular interactions. Owing to the exquisite sensitivity of AFM, mechanical properties of individual biomolecular bonds can be analysed. To enable such analysis, interacting molecules are typically anchored to the AFM tip and a planar surface.
Applications in our research
The applications of AFM in biomedical research are wide and varied, with it being an ideal technique to image cell topography or to measure the mechanical strength of biological interactions. AFM is used across much of our current research; for details please click any of the below icons.
