Atomic Force Microscopy: Mechanosensor and Mechanotransducer for Probing Biological System from Molecules to Tissues

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a powerful technique with widespread applications in various scientific fields, including biology. It operates by precisely detecting the interaction between a sharp tip and a sample surface, providing high-resolution topographical information and mechanical properties at a nanoscale. Through the years, a deeper understanding of this tip-sample interaction and the mechanisms by which it can be more precisely regulated have invariably led to improvements in AFM imaging. Additionally, AFM can serve not only as a sensor but also as a tool for actively manipulating the mechanical properties of biological systems. By applying controlled forces to the sample surface, AFM allows for a deeper understanding of mechanotransduction pathways, the intricate signaling cascades that convert physical cues into biochemical responses. This review, is an extensive overview of the current status of AFM working either as a mechanosensor or a mechanotransducer to probe biological systems across diverse scales, from individual molecules to entire tissues is presented. Challenges are discussed and potential future research directions are elaborated.