Imaging and Manipulation of Biomolecules

Abstract

In this chapter, we present the main methods able to image and manipulate biomolecules, with the purpose of getting more information about their behavior. The main characterization tools related to nanotechnologies, such as the atomic force microscope and the scanning tunneling microscopy, will be presented in relation to biomolecule imaging and manipulation. Other applications will be presented as well. The imaging of biomolecules and other biological entities is dominated by optical microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy, and labeling with organic fluorophores, which are nanoparticles that emit light for in vivo analysis or in vitro detection. However, this subject is beyond the aims of this book. The reader interested in these subjects is advised to read the excellent review of Roncali et al. (2010). This chapter deals mainly with imaging methods directly linked to nanotechnologies