Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in biomedical research

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a form of scanning probe microscopy that achieves sub-nanometer imaging resolution, far exceeding the optical diffraction limit. AFM images, which cannot be achieved with conventional microscopy techniques, reveal aspects of the underlying biophysics that provide new insights for the fields of cell and molecular biology. This chapter presents the basic concepts of AFM and discusses a variety of imaging modes and their application to biological systems. Specialized AFM techniques are also discussed that expand the reach of this method in biomedical imaging.