Multiparametric atomic force microscopy imaging of single native exosomes.

Abstract

The advent of atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides a novel powerful tool for addressing biological issues in their native states. AFM uses a sharp tip mounted at the end of a microfabricated cantilever to probe the specimens immobilized on the support. Compared with other high-resolution imaging and measurement techniques (e.g. super-resolution optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and magnetic/optical tweezers), the unique merit of AFM is that it is able to simultaneously acquire the structures and properties of living biological samples under aqueous conditions with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution (nanometer spatial resolution and millisecond temporal resolution) [1], making AFM an invaluable platform for revealing the underlying mechanisms guiding life activities. The wide applications of AFM in molecular and cell biology provide considerable novel insights into the physiological/pathological processes [2]. Particularly, in recent years, a new AFM imaging mode, which is called peak force tapping (PFT)...