Afm Imaging
Afm Imaging - Related Videos
08:21
Quantitative Hardness Measurement by Instrumented AFM-indentation
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Cited by 6 •
2016
This experimental protocol describes how atomic force microscopy can be used to measure hardness at the true nanometer scale and to detect single atomistic plasticity events.
09:47
AFM and Microrheology in the Zebrafish Embryo Yolk Cell
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Cited by 3 •
2017
The lack of tools to measure material properties and tensional parameters in vivo prevents validating their roles during development. We employed atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nanoparticle-tracking to quantify mechanical features on the intact zebrafish embryo yolk cell during epiboly. These methods are reliable and widely applicable avoiding intrusive interventions.
08:29
Au-Interaction of Slp1 Polymers and Monolayer from Lysinibacillus sphaericus JG-B53 - QCM-D, ICP-MS and AFM as Tools for Biomolecule-metal Studies
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Cited by 12 •
2016
To obtain basic information on the sorption and recycling of gold from aqueous systems the interaction of Au(III) and Au(0) nanoparticles on S-layer proteins were investigated. The sorption of protein polymers was investigated by ICP-MS and that of proteinaceous monolayers by QCM-D. Subsequent AFM enables the imaging of the nanostructures.
10:37
Covalent Attachment of Single Molecules for AFM-based Force Spectroscopy
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Cited by 3 •
2020
Covalent attachment of probe molecules to atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilever tips is an essential technique for the investigation of their physical properties. This allows us to determine the stretching force, desorption force and length of polymers via AFM-based single molecule force spectroscopy with high reproducibility.
08:59
Concurrent Quantitative Conductivity and Mechanical Properties Measurements of Organic Photovoltaic Materials using AFM
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Cited by 3 •
2013
Organic photovoltaic (OPV) materials are inherently inhomogeneous at the nanometer scale. Nanoscale inhomogeneity of OPV materials affects performance of photovoltaic devices. In this paper, we describe a protocol for quantitative measurements of electrical and mechanical properties of OPV materials with sub-100 nm resolution.
FAQs
AFM imaging translates tip–sample interactions into spatial data through a linked measurement chain. As the probe moves across a surface, interaction-induced cantilever bending changes the laser signal recorded by the photodetector. Feedback adjusts the scanning conditions to maintain a controlled force, allowing the system to reconstruct surface topography from the measured response.
Controlled force is central because the cantilever response depends on how the probe interacts with the sample. Maintaining that force provides a consistent basis for mapping surface height and extracting physical properties. This is especially relevant for biological materials, where AFM can examine membranes, molecular structures, and engineered surfaces without requiring fluorescent labels.
Beyond topography, AFM imaging can quantify surface roughness, adhesion, and stiffness. Roughness describes variation in the mapped surface, whereas adhesion and stiffness provide information about interaction and mechanical characteristics. In bioengineering, these outputs help compare biomaterials or tissue scaffolds and evaluate surface features relevant to cell-material interactions.
The absence of fluorescent labels lets AFM imaging characterize surfaces through probe interactions rather than depending on a fluorescence signal. This supports examination of topography and physical properties in biological samples, biomaterials, tissue scaffolds, and molecular structures. The resulting measurements provide both structural description and physical characterization within bioengineering research.
A practical workflow coordinates the sharp probe, flexible cantilever, laser, photodetector, and feedback system. The probe scans the selected surface while the optical readout tracks cantilever deflection, and feedback maintains the intended force during acquisition. Coordinating these elements produces a topographic map and enables associated physical-property measurements from the same examination.
In bioengineering, AFM imaging can characterize cell membranes, biomaterials, tissue scaffolds, and molecular structures. Measurements of roughness, adhesion, and stiffness add physical detail to surface maps, helping researchers analyze cell-material interactions and support the design of engineered materials. The method therefore connects nanoscale surface characterization with material-development decisions.