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Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a type of scanning probe microscopy that can analyze topographic details of various specimens like ceramics, glass, polymers, and biological samples. AFM offers over 1000 times more resolution than the optical imaging system. Images generated from AFM are three-dimensional surface profiles, offering an advantage over the flat, two-dimensional images from other imaging techniques.
The AFM Probe
The probe is regarded as the heart of any AFM setup and comprises the...

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

The early pioneers of microscopy opened a window into the invisible world of microorganisms. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes that leveraged nonvisible light, such as fluorescence microscopy that uses an ultraviolet light source and electron microscopy that uses short-wavelength electron beams. These advances significantly improved magnification, image resolution, and contrast. By comparison, the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 29, 2026

Atomic Force Microscopy of Red-Light Photoreceptors Using PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping

Atomic Force Microscopy of Red-Light Photoreceptors Using PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping

Published on: October 24, 2014

Probing membrane proteins using atomic force microscopy.

Guangyong Li¹, Ning Xi, Donna H Wang

¹Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.

Journal of Cellular Biochemistry

|January 28, 2006

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers advanced imaging and sensing for single biomolecules. This review details AFM techniques for probing molecular functions and characterizing receptors in living cells, with broad biomedical applications.

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Last Updated: Apr 29, 2026

Atomic Force Microscopy of Red-Light Photoreceptors Using PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping

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Published on: October 24, 2014

Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging and Force Spectroscopy of Supported Lipid Bilayers

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Force Spectroscopy of Single Protein Molecules Using an Atomic Force Microscope

Force Spectroscopy of Single Protein Molecules Using an Atomic Force Microscope

Published on: February 28, 2019

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Nanotechnology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Understanding biological molecule function requires advanced imaging, sensing, and actuating technologies.
The atomic force microscope (AFM) is a promising tool for single-molecule analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

To review techniques and efforts using AFM to probe biomolecules.
To discuss state-of-the-art methods for characterizing single receptors with functionalized AFM tips.
To provide perspectives on using AFM for membrane protein identification in living cells.

Main Methods:

Review of existing atomic force microscopy techniques for biomolecular studies.
Discussion of functionalized AFM tips for specific receptor characterization.
Case study: Analyzing angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptors in sensory neurons using AFM.

Main Results:

Detailed overview of AFM-based methods for single biomolecule analysis.
Demonstration of AFM's capability in characterizing specific receptors like AT1.
Exploration of AFM's potential for identifying membrane proteins in live cells.

Conclusions:

AFM techniques are powerful tools for investigating biomolecular mechanisms.
Characterizing single receptors and membrane proteins with AFM has significant biomedical potential.
These AFM applications could revolutionize basic research and clinical practice for molecular-scale diseases.