Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences
Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences

Atomic Force Microscopy Application in Biological Research: A Review Study

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

Bahareh Nazemi Salman 1
Surena Vahabi 2
Anahita Javanmard 3

1 Department of Pedodontics, Dental School, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran

2 Department of Periodontics, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Dentist; Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30476/ijms.2013.39514
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a three-dimensional topographic technique with a high atomic resolution to measure surface roughness. AFM is a kind of scanning probe microscope, and its near-field technique is based on the interaction between a sharp tip and the atoms of the sample surface. There are several methods and many ways to modify the tip of the AFM to investigate surface properties, including measuring friction, adhesion forces and viscoelastic properties as well as determining the Young modulus and imaging magnetic or electrostatic properties. The AFM technique can analyze any kind of samples such as polymers, adsorbed molecules, films or fibers, and powders in the air whether in a controlled atmosphere or in a liquid medium. In the past decade, the AFM has emerged as a powerful tool to obtain the nanostructural details and biomechanical properties of biological samples, including biomolecules and cells. The AFM applications, techniques, and -in particular- its ability to measure forces, are not still familiar to most clinicians. This paper reviews the literature on the main principles of the AFM modality and highlights the advantages of this technique in biology, medicine, and- especially- dentistry. This literature review was performed through E-resources, including Science Direct, PubMed, Blackwell Synergy, Embase, Elsevier, and Scholar Google for the references published between 1985 and 2010.

Keywords

Atomic force microscopy
Scanning tunneling microscopy
Scanning probe microscopy
Dental
Biological

  • Received 30 November 2013
  • Revised 23 August 2020
  • Accepted 24 December 2018

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