[Application of atomic force microscope in life science research].
Atomic force microscope (AFM) is one of the most recent imaging and manipulation techniques in biological science. Among its various merits, AFM typically enables simple sample preparation, acquisition of three-dimensional images to identify single atoms under different conditions, detection of the interactive forces between two single biomolecules and their manipulation. AFM is currently applied in the research of the structure and function, at the nanometric scale, of various tissues, cells, microbes and biomolecules, and studies of the interaction between two biomolecules as well as the manipulation of some biological processes. AFM possesses the potential to become an important instrument in life science research, in spite of its current limits that require improvements such as in carbon nanotube tip, rigidity of soft biological samples and result interpretation.
Yu
Yi-Gang
YG
Department of Neurosurgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China. yu-yg@tom.com
Xu
Ru-Xiang
RX
Cai
Ying-Qian
YQ
Jiang
Xiao-Dan
XD
Ke
Yi-Quan
YQ
D001690:Biological Science Disciplines / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D043942:Nanotubes