title: Past, present and future of atomic force microscopy in life sciences and medicine.
abstract: To introduce this special issue of the Journal of Molecular Recognition dedicated to the applications of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in life sciences, this paper presents a short summary of the history of AFM in biology. Based on contributions from the first international conference of AFM in biological sciences and medicine (AFM BioMed Barcelona, 19-21 April 2007), we present and discuss recent progress made using AFM for studying cells and cellular interactions, probing single molecules, imaging biosurfaces at high resolution and investigating model membranes and their interactions. Future prospects in these different fields are also highlighted.
authors: CEA-Valrhô DSV/iBEB/SBTN, 30207 Bagnols sur Cèze Marcoule, France. parot@cea.fr <parot@cea.fr>
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Parot
authors: Yves F
authors: YF
authors: Dufrêne
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Hinterdorfer
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Le Grimellec
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Navajas
authors: Jean-Luc
authors: JL
authors: Pellequer
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Scheuring
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001690:Biological Science Disciplines / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D001695:Biology / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D022082:Cellular Structures / Q000648:ultrastructure; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods