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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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Related Experiment Video

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Measuring the Stiffness of Ex Vivo Mouse Aortas Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Measuring the Stiffness of Ex Vivo Mouse Aortas Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Published on: October 19, 2016

A novel technique for quantifying mouse heart valve leaflet stiffness with atomic force microscopy.

Mary-Kathryn Sewell-Loftin¹, Christopher B Brown, H Scott Baldwin

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-0493, USA.

The Journal of Heart Valve Disease

|September 8, 2012

Summary

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) can measure heart valve leaflet stiffness in genetically altered mice. This study found older wild-type and mutated mouse leaflets are stiffer, with Notch1 mutations significantly increasing stiffness.

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Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Cardiovascular Research
Genetics

Background:

Genetically altered mouse models are crucial for studying heart valve disease mechanisms.
Assessing the mechanical properties of mutated heart valve leaflets presents a challenge.
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers a potential solution for leaflet mechanical analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the feasibility of using AFM for quantifying heart valve leaflet stiffness.
To investigate the impact of age and genetic mutations (Notch1, ApoE) on leaflet mechanical properties.
To establish AFM as a tool for analyzing genetically modified mouse models of heart valve disease.

Main Methods:

A novel AFM technique was employed to measure leaflet stiffness on cryosectioned mouse heart valves.
Samples included wild-type mice (2 and 17 months) and genetically altered mice (Notch1 heterozygous, ApoE homozygous).
Histology was performed on adjacent sections to correlate matrix characteristics with stiffness.

Main Results:

Leaflets from older wild-type mice (17 months) and genetically altered mice (Notch1, ApoE) were significantly stiffer than young wild-type (2 months).
Notch1 heterozygous leaflets exhibited the greatest stiffness, suggesting an early and pronounced effect of this mutation.
ApoE homozygous mutation also increased leaflet stiffness compared to young wild-type controls.

Conclusions:

AFM is a viable and powerful technique for assessing heart valve leaflet mechanical properties in genetically altered mice.
This method complements traditional histology and requires minimal tissue.
AFM provides valuable insights for researchers studying heart valve disease using genetically modified animal models.