Life at the Nanoscale : Atomic Force Microscopy of Live Cells

Pan Stanford Publishing, 2011. — 445 p. Proceeding from basic fundamentals to applications, this volume provides a comprehensive overview of the use of AFM and related scanning probe microscopies for cell surface analysis. It covers all cell types, from viruses and protoplasts to bacteria and animal cells. It also discusses a range of advanced AFM modalities, including high-resolution imaging, nanoindentation measurements, recognition imaging, and single-molecule and single-cell force spectroscopy. The book covers methodologies for preparing and analyzing cells and membranes of all kinds and highlights recent examples to illustrate the power of AFM techniques in life sciences and nanomedicine. Authored by cutting-edge atomic force microscopy (AFM) specialists, this timely text provides a detailed discussion of the use of AFM for cell-surface analysis, from a summary of the basics to a breakdown of implementations. Stating that remarkable advances have been made in applying force spectroscopy modalities to study cellular mechanics this examination is the first of its kind to explore all cell types, from viruses and protoplasts to bacteria and animal cells. With methodologies for preparing and analyzing cells and membranes, and using recent examples to illustrate the power of AFM techniques in life sciences and nanobiosciences, this extensive report is an appealing resource for those involved in the fields of cell biology, microbiology, biophysics, biochemistry, and nanosciences