Atomic force microscopy of biomaterials surfaces and interfaces

The use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in biomaterials science and engineering applications has increased rapidly over the last few years. Beyond being merely a tool for measuring surface topography, AFM has made significant contributions to various biomaterials research areas dealing with the structure, properties, dynamics and manipulation of biomaterials surfaces and interfaces. This paper critically reviews methodological approaches and presents aspects of this research. Selected examples presented include micro and nanostructure and properties of biomaterials surfaces, molecular level interactions at biomaterial–biomolecule interfaces, interfaces between biomaterials and mineralised tissues as well as advances of mineralised tissue research. In these areas, AFM is shown to be a useful and versatile tool to study micro and nanostructure, to probe mechanical properties or to investigate dynamic process at biomaterials surfaces and interfaces.