Recent developments in using atomic force microscopy in microbiology research: An update

Abstract

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has substantiated itself over the past two decades as a fundamental apparatus for examining microbial frameworks. This chapter deals with how AFM is being utilized in the microbiological field for analyzing surface morphology and its interaction mechanism with other nanomaterials. Live cell immobilization enables AFM imaging and force quantity provides comprehensive data over the structure and dimensions of various microbial cells. At the macromolecular level, AFM studies provide insight into surface morphologies and the dynamics related to their mechanical adaptability and profound knowledge in the intricate associations of microbial cells. At the unit of an intact cell, AFM affords unified investigation of how the microbial cell explores its environs over its specific and versatile interfaces. Along with these, AFM also examines microbial biofilms for applicability in the engineering and biomedical analysis process. Futuristic solicitation of AFM to microbial outlines tends to be in combination with other morphological studies, for instance, confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, to explicate active cellular progressions. © 2021 Elsevier Inc.