Nanomechanical characterization of soft nanomaterial using atomic force microscopy.

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) offers high-resolution imaging and nanomechanical analysis of soft matter.
• AFM is crucial in biological and pharmaceutical sciences for studying cells, bacteria, viruses, proteins, and nanoparticles under physiological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review experimental techniques and mathematical models for investigating the mechanical properties of soft materials using AFM.
• To highlight the application of AFM in diverse scientific disciplines, including cancer research, antimicrobial resistance, virology, and drug delivery systems.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing force-distance (f-d) curves obtained through AFM indentation experiments and the force volume technique.
• Employing models such as Hertz, Johnson-Kendall-Roberts, Derjaguin-Müller-Toporov, Chen, Tu, and Cappella for elasticity determination.
• Analyzing retract f-d curves using methods like Chemical Force Microscopy, Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy, and Single-Cell Force Spectroscopy to assess binding forces and adhesive properties.

Main Results:

• AFM can quantify elastic moduli and binding forces of soft materials.
• Cancer cells exhibit reduced stiffness compared to healthy cells.
• Bacterial adaptation to antibiotics and virus capsid stiffness correlating with infectivity have been investigated.
• AFM provides insights into nanoparticle properties for drug delivery system design.

Conclusions:

• AFM is a versatile tool for characterizing soft matter's nanomechanical properties.
• AFM applications span from fundamental biological research to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
• Further sophisticated AFM investigations hold promise for prognostic and therapeutic advancements across various scientific fields.