Study of Atomic Force Microscopy in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Interactions - A Mini Review

Abstract

The atomic force microscope (AFM) is the subject of numerous papers and reports and is full of promises for nanoscience and nanotechnological applications. Pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical studies using AFM have been functionalized during last two decades. Since, its invention in 1986, the number of published articles has considerably increased. Owing to its unique ability to not only image but also probe mechanical and chemical properties with sub nanometer resolution under physiological condition made it an attractive tool. It can be relatively easily operated in fluids, and thus experiments can be conducted under nearly physiological conditions, which pace its numerous applications in biological problems. In the field of pharmaceutical sciences, AFM presents a unique opportunity to study a variety of phenomena at the cellular and sub cellular level, down to individual (macro) molecular complexes. These advantages of AFM allowed the advent invention of fabrication variables, dynamic processes, drug structure-function relationships, in real time. This article reviews the study of AFM to investigate the crystal growth, polymorphism, particles, granules and coating morphology of solid dosage form for optimization of pharmaceutical behaviors. It also highlights the in situ biopharmaceutical investigation of cell-macromolecular surface, drug-drug, drug-cell, drug-DNA, DNA-protein, drugenzyme and antigen-antibody interactions, and disease mechanisms to understand the better physiological mechanisms associated with disease to rationalize the drug design and development.

Compliance profile of the human cornea as measured by atomic force microscopy

“…(Alessandrini and Facci, 2005; Cohen and Bitler, 2008; Costa, 2003; Deniz et al, 2008; Ebner et al, 2008; Franz and Puech, 2008; Frederix et al, 2009; Gadegaard, 2006; Goksu et al, 2009; Haupt et al, 2006; Ikai, 2008; Kasas and Dietler, 2008; Morris et al, 1999; Muller, 2008; Muller and Dufrene, 2008; Noy, 2006; Parot et al, 2007; Radmacher, 2007; Ritort, 2006; Santos and Castanho, 2004; Seantier et al, 2008; Veerapandian and Yun, 2009; Withers and Aston, 2006; Wright and Armstrong, 2006; Zhu and Sun, 2006)…”

Functional Nanoparticles Translocation Into Cell and Adhesion Force Curve Analysis

“…16 AFM is an important scanning technique provides additional capabilities and advantages relative to other microscopic methods in studying the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical interactions. 17 For instance, recognition event between ligand-receptor couples 18 and studies on DNA 19 20 and polysaccharides, 21 22 detection of mechanical properties of surface macromolecules on fungi and measurement of elastic responses of biopolymer membrane to bacterial surfaces are studied by AFM. 23 In addition AFM has been utilized to analyze the contractile behavior of active single cell as well as cells in confluent layer and pulsing behavior of single cell laterally.…”

Size-Tunable and Functional Core−Shell Structured Silica Nanoparticles for Drug Release

“…Multifunctional micro/nanostructured materials, with controlled sizes and the ability to deliver large amounts of therapeutic or imaging agents, as well as the potential to encapsulate multiagents for targeted delivery, are highly desirable for biomedical applications. − Polymer nanocarriers, microparticles, mesoporous silicates, , nanoparticles, ,− and polymeric micelles − are widely investigated.…”