[Methods of microorganism immobilization for dynamic atomic-force studies (review)]

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Nanotechnology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Atomic-force microscopy (AFM) is a powerful technique for analyzing the surface ultrastructure and nanomechanical properties of biological samples, particularly microorganisms.
• Accurate AFM analysis in liquid media necessitates robust microorganism immobilization, ensuring cell attachment to substrates while maintaining native characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comparative analysis of various microorganism immobilization methods used in dynamic AFM studies.
• To review technologies for securing cells on substrates for AFM analysis.

Main Methods:

• Review of immobilization techniques including mechanical retention, chemical binding, protein adsorption, and immunospecific adsorption.
• Comparative analysis of the effectiveness and suitability of different methods for AFM applications.

Main Results:

• Different immobilization strategies offer varying degrees of cell attachment strength and preservation of native properties.
• The choice of immobilization method significantly impacts the quality and reliability of AFM data.

Conclusions:

• Selecting an appropriate microorganism immobilization technique is critical for successful and accurate AFM studies.
• Understanding the trade-offs between different methods allows for optimized experimental design in nanomechanical and ultrastructural analysis.