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Atomic Force Microscopy: A Versatile Tool in Cancer Research
by
, , , , , and
Francesca Persano
1,2
,
Alessandro Parodi
3
,
Tatiana Pallaeva
3,4, 
Ekaterina Kolesova
3
,
Andrey A. Zamyatnin, Jr.
5,6,7
,
Vadim S. Pokrovsky
3,8,9,
Valeria De Matteis
1,10
,
Stefano Leporatti
2
and
Mariafrancesca Cascione
1,10,*
1
Mathematics and Physics Department “Ennio De Giorgi”, University of Salento, Via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy
2
CNR Nanotec-Istituto di Nanotecnologia, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
3
Scientific Center for Translation Medicine, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354340 Sochi, Russia
4
Federal Scientific Research Center Crystallography and Photonics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119333 Moscow, Russia
5
Department of Biological Chemistry, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) 119991 Moscow, Russia
6
Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia
7
Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia
8
N.N. Blokhin Medical Research Center of Oncology, 115478 Moscow, Russia
9
Patrice Lumumba People’s Friendship University, 117198 Moscow, Russia
10
Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM), National Research Council (CNR), Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2025, 17(5), 858; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17050858 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 28 January 2025
/
Revised: 21 February 2025
/
Accepted: 27 February 2025
/
Published: 2 March 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Advances in Cancer Nanomedicine)
Simple Summary
The integration of atomic force microscopy (AFM) into biological facilities, is significantly increasing our understanding of tumors biology and answer to treatments. AFM allows for investigating cell morphology, roughness, adhesion, stiffness, and elasticity in correlation with specific cell treatment, by comparing the morpho-mechanical properties in healthy and treated cells, thereby allowing diagnostic information of the aggressiveness of cancer and the efficacy of any treatment. This review attempts to analyze current literature, highlighting the role of AFM in biomedical research and specifically in cancer case, while also shading some light into novel possible applications in clinics.
Abstract
The implementation of novel analytic methodologies in cancer and biomedical research has enabled the quantification of parameters that were previously disregarded only a few decades ago. A notable example of this paradigm shift is the widespread integration of atomic force microscopy (AFM) into biomedical laboratories, significantly advancing our understanding of cancer cell biology and treatment response. AFM allows for the meticulous monitoring of different parameters at the molecular and nanoscale levels, encompassing critical aspects such as cell morphology, roughness, adhesion, stiffness, and elasticity. These parameters can be systematically investigated in correlation with specific cell treatment, providing important insights into morpho-mechanical properties during normal and treated conditions. The resolution of this system holds the potential for its systematic adoption in clinics; its application could produce useful diagnostic information regarding the aggressiveness of cancer and the efficacy of treatment. This review endeavors to analyze the current literature, underscoring the pivotal role of AFM in biomedical research, especially in cancer cases, while also contemplating its prospective application in a clinical context.
