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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...

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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging and Force Spectroscopy of Supported Lipid Bilayers

Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging and Force Spectroscopy of Supported Lipid Bilayers

Published on: July 22, 2015

Membrane-based actuation for high-speed single molecule force spectroscopy studies using AFM.

Krishna Sarangapani¹, Hamdi Torun, Ofer Finkler

¹Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.

European Biophysics Journal : EBJ

|January 8, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

New polymer membranes enable atomic force microscopy (AFM) at ultra-high speeds. This overcomes hydrodynamic forces, allowing faster single-molecule unbinding force measurements for enhanced biological studies.

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Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging and Force Spectroscopy of Supported Lipid Bilayers

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Area of Science:

Biophysics
Materials Science
Nanotechnology

Background:

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) dynamic force spectroscopy measures molecular interactions.
Hydrodynamic forces limit AFM cantilever performance at high pulling speeds (>10 microm/s).
Viscous drag significantly impacts unbinding/unfolding force measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a method to overcome hydrodynamic limitations in AFM.
To enable high-speed AFM measurements (>100 microm/s) with minimal viscous drag.
To achieve higher bond loading rates for single-molecule force spectroscopy.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of polymer-based membranes for AFM cantilever actuation.
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using FLUENT software.
Experimental unbinding force experiments using human antibodies.

Main Results:

Membrane actuators enable AFM cantilevers to operate at speeds >=100 microm/s.
CFD simulations predict and experimental results confirm reduced drag forces with membrane actuators.
Achieved bond loading rates of >=10(6) pN/s, an order of magnitude higher than conventional systems.

Conclusions:

Polymer-based membranes effectively mitigate hydrodynamic forces in high-speed AFM.
This technology significantly enhances the achievable bond loading rates in single-molecule force spectroscopy.
The developed method opens new possibilities for studying rapid molecular interactions.