Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
10:25
Sub-nanometer Resolution Imaging with Amplitude-modulation Atomic Force Microscopy in Liquid
Published on: December 20, 2016
High-speed AFM reveals the dynamics of single biomolecules at the nanometer scale
1Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute for Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands.
Cell
|November 29, 2011
Abstract:
Atomic force microscopy allows visualization of biomolecules with nanometer resolution under physiological conditions. Recent advances have improved the time resolution of the technique from minutes to tens of milliseconds, meaning that it is now possible to watch single biomolecules in action in real time. Here, we review this development.
Related Concept Videos
01:08Atomic 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...
The AFM Probe
The probe is regarded as the heart of any AFM setup and comprises the...
01:17Studying the Cytoskeleton
The cytoskeletal architecture can be studied using different microscopic and biochemical techniques. Electron microscopy was instrumental in discovering the cytoskeletal architecture around the 1960s, which allowed obtaining structural information at a high-resolution level. However, the sample preparation procedure often limits this ability in biological samples. Several protocols have been developed over the years to optimize sample preparation. In one of the protocols known as rotary...