Probing radiation-induced structural and biomechanical alterations using atomic force microscopy

Due to the widespread use of ionizing radiation in medicine, industry, and military technologies, its adverse impact on biological systems has become a major concern. Radiation-induced alterations in structural and mechanical properties serve as biomarkers of ionizing radiation exposure in biological systems. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) enables the nanoscale quantification of these properties. This review discusses recent advances in the investigation of radiobiological effects in biological systems (deoxyribonucleic acid, collagen, biological nanoparticles, viruses, and cells) using AFM. It also highlights key knowledge gaps that can be addressed using AFM to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying complications following various types of radiation exposure, as well as promising directions for the development of AFM methods in radiobiology and radiation medicine.