As an effective tool to study proteins, nucleic acids, cells and other biological samples, atomic force microscope (AFM) has been widely used in various fields of life science. Biological sample preparation via self-assembly is the precondition of the research. In this paper, common self-assembly methods of biological samples such as proteins, lipid films, DNA and cells for AFM studies are reviewed, and how the samples to be well attached to a substrate using appropriate, nondestructive methods is discussed. The trends towards the development in the future are also looked into.
Animals ; Cells ; DNA ; analysis ; Humans ; Lipids ; analysis ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; methods ; Proteins ; analysis ; Specimen Handling ; methods