Imaging modes of atomic force microscopy for application in molecular and cell biology

• Published in: Nature nanotechnology Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 295 - 307
• Main Authors: Dufrêne, Yves F., Ando, Toshio, Garcia, Ricardo, Alsteens, David, Martinez-Martin, David, Engel, Andreas, Gerber, Christoph, Müller, Daniel J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.04.2017; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/61/350/1056; 639/925/350/1056; Animals; Atomic force microscopy; Biological properties; Biological samples; Biology; Cell Biology; Cells (biology); Contact; Cytological Techniques - instrumentation; Cytological Techniques - methods; High speed; Humans; Imaging; Life sciences; Materials Science; Microscopy; Microscopy, Atomic Force - instrumentation; Microscopy, Atomic Force - methods; Molecular Biology - instrumentation; Molecular Biology - methods; Nanoscience; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Platforms; Proteins; review-article; Signal to noise ratio; Basel Switzerland; Switzerland
• ISSN: 1748-3387; 1748-3395; 1748-3395
• DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2017.45

This Review Article examines the principles, advantages and limitations of emerging bioimaging modes of atomic force microscopy, including multiparametric, molecular recognition, multifrequency and high-speed imaging. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a powerful, multifunctional imaging platform that allows biological samples, from single molecules to living cells, to be visualized and manipulated. Soon after the instrument was invented, it was recognized that in order to maximize the opportunities of AFM imaging in biology, various technological developments would be required to address certain limitations of the method. This has led to the creation of a range of new imaging modes, which continue to push the capabilities of the technique today. Here, we review the basic principles, advantages and limitations of the most common AFM bioimaging modes, including the popular contact and dynamic modes, as well as recently developed modes such as multiparametric, molecular recognition, multifrequency and high-speed imaging. For each of these modes, we discuss recent experiments that highlight their unique capabilities.