Recent progressive use of atomic force microscopy in biomedical applications

• Published in: TrAC, Trends in analytical chemistry (Regular ed.) Vol. 80; pp. 96 - 111
• Main Authors: Maver, Uroš, Velnar, Tomaž, Gaberšček, Miran, Planinšek, Odon, Finšgar, Matjaž
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2016
• Subjects: AFM; Atomic force microscopy; Biomedical applications; Drug-tissue interaction; Force spectroscopy; Interaction mapping; Single molecule studies; Atomic force microscopy; Interaction mapping; Biomedical applications; Force spectroscopy; AFM; Drug-tissue interaction; Single molecule studies
• ISSN: 0165-9936; 1879-3142
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2016.03.014

•AFM is characterised by superior resolution and possible interaction mapping in pN range.•AFM has become an essential technique in biomedical applications.•Recent progress in AFM use has enabled significant breakthroughs in biomedicine.•There is an increase in the number of studies using AFM as the crucial technique. In recent years, a great deal of interest has been focused on the development of novel atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based methods. From first being an unstable method, AFM has emerged as the perfect tool for the study of phenomena at the nanoscale, which includes quantitative single molecule studies. Numerous novel AFM methods play a crucial role in the invention of novel drugs, their delivery systems, based on either polymers or inorganic/metallic matrices, and in the examination of disease-related tissue changes. Such contemporary progressive studies are a perfect example of interdisciplinary research, which results in exemplary findings and discoveries. This review focuses especially on the literature published in the last decade; however the most important earlier discoveries are also included.