Abstract
Functional polymers currently represent a basic component of a large range of biological and biomedical applications including molecular release, tissue engineering, bio-sensing and medical imaging. Advancements in these fields are driven by the use of a wide set of biodegradable polymers with controlled physical and bio-interactive properties. In this context, microscopy techniques such as Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) are emerging as fundamental tools to deeply investigate morphology and structural properties at micro and sub-micrometric scale, in order to evaluate the in time relationship between physicochemical properties of biomaterials and biological response. In particular, AFM is not only a mere tool for screening surface topography, but may offer a significant contribution to understand surface and interface properties, thus concurring to the optimization of biomaterials performance, processes, physical and chemical properties at the micro and nanoscale. This is possible by capitalizing the recent discoveries in nanotechnologies applied to soft matter such as atomic force spectroscopy to measure surface forces through force curves. By tip-sample local interactions, several information can be collected such as elasticity, viscoelasticity, surface charge densities and wettability. This paper overviews recent developments in AFM technology and imaging techniques by remarking differences in operational modes, the implementation of advanced tools and their current application in biomaterials science, in terms of characterization of polymeric devices in different forms (i.e., fibres, films or particles).
Highlights
Advantages and LimitationsMicroscopy is the most important instrument for morphological studies in biomedical field
About 20 years ago, Binning, Quate and Gerber [2] developed a new type of microscope able to measure forces on an atomic scale on graphite samples [3,4], providing a first concrete idea of current scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) [5,6]
AFM technique is rapidly emerging as a gold standard technique to collect more detailed information about surface and interface properties respect to other microscopy techniques
Summary
Microscopy is the most important instrument for morphological studies in biomedical field. The first scope of TE is to assemble functional constructs or scaffolds able to restore, maintain, and improve injured or damaged tissues In this context, it is crucial to investigate specific interactions between single cells and extracellular matrix, into micro/nanostructured scaffolds made of natural or synthetic polymers, under specific stimuli exerted by surrounding biological environment at micro and nanometric scale [9]. It is crucial to investigate specific interactions between single cells and extracellular matrix, into micro/nanostructured scaffolds made of natural or synthetic polymers, under specific stimuli exerted by surrounding biological environment at micro and nanometric scale [9] In this context, AFM technique is rapidly emerging as a gold standard technique to collect more detailed information about surface and interface properties respect to other microscopy techniques. We conclude this review by examining recent innovation in AFM technologies, by discovering advanced tools such as Conductive and Thermal analyses which are forcefully emerging for their potential use in biomedical field
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