Application of atomic force microscopy in blood research

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a powerful tool for visualizing cellular structures at the nanoscale.
• Preserving the native morphology of erythrocytes (red blood cells) is crucial for accurate AFM analysis.
• Common laboratory solutions may introduce artifacts or alter cell shape, complicating interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify laboratory solutions that maintain erythrocyte integrity and minimize granular artifacts during AFM imaging.
• To evaluate the suitability of various solutions for preparing erythrocytes for AFM analysis.

Main Methods:

• Eight common laboratory solutions were tested, including formaldehyde, PBS buffer, citrate buffer, NaCl, dextrose, TAE, 1640 medium, and EDTA-K2.
• Human erythrocytes from a healthy volunteer were prepared using these solutions and deposited on mica.
• Samples were dried and then scanned using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).

Main Results:

• Formaldehyde (1%), citrate buffer (pH 6.0), dextrose (5%), and TAE demonstrated excellent erythrocyte shape preservation with minimal granular presence.
• These selected solutions enabled the acquisition of high-resolution images revealing fine structures of the erythrocyte membrane.
• Other tested solutions resulted in significant morphological changes or particle formation.

Conclusions:

• Formaldehyde (1%), citrate buffer, dextrose (5%), and TAE are suitable for preparing erythrocytes for AFM analysis.
• These findings provide valuable data for the clinical application of AFM in blood cell diagnostics.
• Optimized sample preparation is key to reliable AFM-based hematological assessments.