Use of Functionalized Atomic Force Microscopy Probes in Biophysics

Using AFM force measurements with functionalized probes, biophysicists can investigate the molecular interactions and physical properties of biosystems on the nanoscale. Functionalizing the AFM probe with chemical groups enables quantitative measurements of the surface hydrophobicity and charge of living cells. Attaching biomolecules to the probe makes it possible to measure receptor-ligand interactions at the single molecule level, either in well-defined model systems or directly at cell surfaces. These experiments contribute to improving our understanding of the structurefunction relationships of biomolecules and cell surfaces, and will have considerable impact on the development of new bioanalytical devices in nanobiotechnology.