Sample preparation procedures for biological atomic force microscopy.
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.
El Kirat
K
K
Unité de chimie des interfaces, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium.
Burton
I
I
Dupres
V
V
Dufrene
Y F
YF
D000818:Animals; D002477:Cells; D004247:DNA; D008055:Lipids; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D011506:Proteins; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*
D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins; D004247:DNA