1- AFM basic principles: from imaging to force spectroscopy
2- Possible artifacts and technical problems of atomic force microscopy
3- AFM imaging of peptides and proteins
4- AFM imaging of isolated membranes
5- AFM of nucleic acids
6- Cell topography and its quantitative imaging
7- Microbial cells imaging using AFM
8- Amyloid fibers assessment by AFM
9- Studying peptide-membrane interactions on an AFM
10- Indentation studies on an atomic force microscope
11- Measuring the elastic properties of living cells
12- Force spectroscopy measuring of living cells adhesion
13- Protein unfolding studied by force spectroscopy
14- Chemical functionalization of substrates and AFM cantilevers for force spectroscopy studies
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16- Combining AFM with optical microscopies
17- Antimicrobial peptides: studying its effect on bacterial cells
18- AFM applications in Oncology
19- AFM applications in Virology
20- AFM applications in Nanomedicine
This book aims to provide examples of applications of atomic force microscopy (AFM) using biological samples, showing different methods for AFM sample preparation, data acquisition and processing, and avoiding technical problems. Divided into two sections, chapters guide readers through image artifacts, process and quantitatively analyze AFM images, lipid bilayers, image DNA-protein complexes, AFM cell topography, single-molecule force spectroscopy, single-molecule dynamic force spectroscopy, fluorescence methodologies, molecular recognition force spectroscopy, biomechanical characterization, AFM-based biosensor setup, and detail how to implement such an in vitro system, which can monitor cardiac electrophysiology, intracellular calcium dynamics, and single cell mechanics. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.
Authoritative and cutting-edge, Atomic Force Microscopy: Methods and Protocols is useful for researchers at different stages, from newcomers to experienced users, interested in new AFM applications.