Publication details
Advanced characterization of nano and biomaterials using AFM and Raman microscopy
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | The atomic force microscope (AFM) was then used to image the structure or directly the processes on the surface of interfaces. Over the years, the AFM technique has also improved, moving from a pure microscope to a device providing much more information than simple topography, although it still provides valuable information. The sensitive cantilever of this instrument then allows nano [1] and biomaterials to be monitored by imaging, where resolution has been significantly improved by new measurement modes (QI, PFQNM, etc.). Soft materials, defined as materials with elastic moduli typically below 1 MPa, such as biopolymers, gels, and biological tissues [2], have unique mechanical properties that differ significantly from their hard material counterparts. Understanding these properties at the nanoscale opens up new opportunities in a variety of areas, including biomedical engineering, materials science and nanotechnology. An interesting combination is the combination of microfluidics inside the cantilever. This combined technique is then called FluidFM. It finds its application, for example, in pipetting very small volumes that can be sensitively delivered (or removed) into a single cell or in 3D nanoprinting. The result should be more efficient methods for characterizing the mechanical properties of complex soft materials and for understanding their properties at the nanometer scale, but also their relationship to the molecular nature of certain processes, with crossover to the biological and biochemical sciences, where this characterization can lead to an understanding of the links between physiological or disease states and changes in mechanical properties at the molecular, cellular or tissue levels. Moreover, force microscope is well combined with other techniques, which are often other types of microscopies such as Raman microscopy. By leveraging the unique vibrational fingerprints of materials, Raman microscopy [3] enables precise identification and spatial mapping of various components within complex systems. Its application spans from elucidating the structural integrity of nanomaterials to monitoring biochemical processes in living cells, making it an indispensable tool in nanotechnology and biomedical research. |
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