Atomic force microscopy as an imaging tool to study the bio/nonbio complexes

Area of Science:

• Bionanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Biophysics

Background:

• Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a key technique for studying bio/nonbio complexes, complementing X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy.
• Understanding biomacromolecule-nanomaterial interactions is vital for nanomedicine applications and nanomaterial safety evaluations.
• Bio/nonbio complexes exhibit diverse stability and composition, necessitating advanced imaging and analysis methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the significance of AFM in studying biological aspects of selected bio/nonbio assemblies.
• To highlight the insights gained from AFM operating in air for structure and function analysis.
• To showcase AFM's role in bionanotechnology and its applications in nanomedicine.

Main Methods:

• Exploitation of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) operating in ambient air conditions.
• Imaging of three-dimensional topography at nanoscale resolution (10⁻⁹ m).
• Analysis of structural, functional, and mechanical properties of biological and material samples.

Main Results:

• AFM provides detailed structural and functional data on bio/nonbio assemblies, including proteins, lipids, DNA, and cells.
• AFM offers unique and unexpected insights into the behavior of these complexes.
• AFM demonstrates utility as a nanodiagnostic tool for patient cells in nanomedicine.

Conclusions:

• AFM is a powerful microscopy technology for nanoscale biological and material studies with minimal sample preparation.
• AFM elucidates biomacromolecule-nanomaterial interactions under various environmental conditions.
• AFM applications are becoming well-established in nanomedicine for diagnostics and safety assessments.