Atomic force microscopy in analytical biotechnology

The past decade has seen the atomic force microscope evolve not only as a high resolution imaging tool, but also as an instrument capable of measuring forces between surfaces and the material properties of samples, Here, the use of atomic force microscopy for surface force measurement is reviewed, highlighting the considerable progress that has recently been made in the area of biotechnology. Particular emphasis is placed on how the instrument can be used to probe directly biomolecular interactions, illustrating the potential of the technique to impact on our fundamental understanding of molecular structure and processes.