Nano-scientific Application of Atomic Force Microscopy in Pathology: from Molecules to Tissues

Abstract

The advantages of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in biological research are its high imaging resolution, sensitivity, and ability to operate in physiological conditions. Over the past decades, rigorous studies have been performed to determine the potential applications of AFM techniques in disease diagnosis and prognosis. Many pathological conditions are accompanied by alterations in the morphology, adhesion properties, mechanical compliances, and molecular composition of cells and tissues. The accurate determination of such alterations can be utilized as a diagnostic and prognostic marker. Alteration in cell morphology represents changes in cell structure and membrane proteins induced by pathologic progression of diseases. Mechanical compliances are also modulated by the active rearrangements of cytoskeleton or extracellular matrix triggered by disease pathogenesis. In addition, adhesion is a critical step in the progression of many diseases including infectious and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent advances in AFM techniques have demonstrated their ability to obtain molecular composition as well as topographic information. The quantitative characterization of molecular alteration in biological specimens in terms of disease progression provides a new avenue to understand the underlying mechanisms of disease onset and progression. In this review, we have highlighted the application of diverse AFM techniques in pathological investigations.

Nanomechanical Properties of Articular Cartilage Due to the PRP Injection in Experimental Osteoarthritis in Rabbits

“…Radiography, currently the gold standard for OA imaging, and other image modalities have limitations in the area of providing information about the mechanical properties of cartilage altered by degenerative joint disease. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) was widely utilized in the detection of pathological and the biomechanical properties of biological target structures on microscopic scale conditions [ 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 ]. In our study, AFM was used to test the mechanical properties and the submicron surface morphology of rabbits’ hyaline cartilage.…”

Designing a Bioinert Surface by Simple Coating with Cholesterol End-Modified Poly(ethylene glycol)

“…On the contrary, a short-range and one-step repulsive force was detected when the coating concentration was 0.01 mg/mL (Figure b,c). These results suggest that the PP surface coated with 5.0 and 0.01 mg/mL Chol-U-Pr-mPEG was swollen and less swollen, respectively. − Because the CMC of Chol-U-Pr-mPEG exists between 0.01 and 5.0 mg/mL, the micelle formation of Chol-U-Pr-mPEG is considered to affect the properties of the resulting Chol-U-Pr-mPEG-coated PP surface. Furthermore, from the range of the first-step to the two-step repulsive force (Figure d,e), the thicknesses of the swollen layers of the PP surfaces coated with 5.0 mg/mL Chol-U-Pr-mPEG (2k) and (5k) were estimated to be 10–15 and 20–25 nm, respectively.…”

Detection of Oxidative Stress Induced by Nanomaterials in Cells—The Roles of Reactive Oxygen Species and Glutathione

“…In addition to the most frequently used methods, other approaches have been used to characterize the cellular nanotoxicity recently. These methods include scanning electron microscopy [ 185 ], liquid cell transmission electron microscopy [ 186 ], atomic force microscopy [ 187 ], and hyperspectral and laser confocal microscopy applied to cell-nanoparticles interactions [ 185 ]. All these microscopic methods are very sensitive and specific, which allows for a very detailed description of the function state of the cells after nanomaterials treatment.…”