Applications of atomic force microscopy in modern biology

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Mechanobiology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) is a powerful technique for probing biomolecular mechanics.
• Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a key SMFS method, enabling high-resolution imaging and force application on biomolecules under physiological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advances in AFM-based SMFS.
• To highlight how these advances provide deep insights into biomolecular mechanical properties and mechanobiology.
• To showcase diverse applications in biophysics and biomedicine.

Main Methods:

• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for mechanical manipulation and imaging.
• Single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) to apply forces and measure responses.
• Review of recent literature showcasing AFM applications.

Main Results:

• AFM-based SMFS has been applied to study diverse biological entities, including cells, tissues, viruses, and proteins.
• Significant contributions to understanding protein folding, mechanosensing in neurons, viral infection mechanics, and cell division.
• Applications in cancer biology for diagnostics and drug discovery.

Conclusions:

• Advances in AFM have significantly enhanced our understanding of biomolecular mechanics and mechanobiology.
• SMFS is crucial for answering fundamental questions in biophysics and modern biology.
• Integrating AFM with other techniques like optical spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations will further advance the field.