Imaging living cells surface and quantifying its properties at high resolution using AFM in QI™ mode

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Microscopy

Background:

• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is crucial for biological sample analysis.
• Classical AFM modes (imaging, tapping) can damage soft or loosely immobilized samples.
• Independent experiments are needed for imaging and mechanical property analysis, increasing time.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the new QI™ mode of AFM with contact imaging and force volume modes.
• To evaluate the benefits of QI™ mode for studying challenging biological samples.
• To demonstrate QI™ mode's utility on diverse biological models.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).
• Compared QI™ mode against contact imaging and force volume modes.
• Tested on six biological models: E. coli, C. albicans, A. fumigatus, CHO cells and nuclei, and human colorectal tumor cells.

Main Results:

• QI™ mode demonstrated reduced sample damage compared to classical modes.
• QI™ mode enabled simultaneous imaging and mechanical property assessment.
• Efficient analysis was achieved across all tested biological models.

Conclusions:

• QI™ mode offers a significant advancement in AFM for biological research.
• It provides a faster and gentler approach for analyzing soft biological matter.
• This method addresses key challenges in imaging and mechanical characterization of diverse cells and microorganisms.