title: Sample preparation procedures for biological atomic force microscopy.
abstract: Since the late 1980s, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been increasingly used in biological sciences and it is now established as a versatile tool to address the structure, properties and functions of biological specimens. AFM is unique in that it provides three-dimensional images of biological structures, including biomolecules, lipid films, 2D protein crystals and cells, under physiological conditions and with unprecedented resolution. A crucial prerequisite for successful, reliable biological AFM is that the samples need to be well attached to a solid substrate using appropriate, nondestructive methods. In this review, we discuss common techniques for immobilizing biological specimens for AFM studies.
authors.affiliation: Unité de chimie des interfaces, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: El Kirat
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dupres
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Dufrene
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002477:Cells; D004247:DNA; D008055:Lipids; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D011506:Proteins; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins; D004247:DNA