Visualization of Cell Structure by Atomic Force Microscopy

Abstract

Cell structure has been extensively studied by light and electron microscopy. However, there are relatively few papers on the study of internal cell structure with the atomic force microscope. In this mini review, efforts to visualize and analyze inner cell structure with the atomic force microscope are here presented, using the technique for sample preparation derived from the standard transmission electron microscopy. Semithin sections of epon embedded samples mounted on glass slides are scanned with a microscope working on contact or intermittent modes. The surface of sections revealed internal cell structure. Animal and plant cells show structures as nuclei, nucleoli, chromatin, cell wall, mitochondria. These works opens up the perspective to analyze these organelles and structures at a nanoscale under liquid physiological conditions.