Biological applications of the AFM: From single molecules to organs

The application domains of the atomic force microscope have increased dramatically in recent years. We present a short review of the contributions of this microscope to biology. These are illustrated through the study of different samples, starting with the imaging of single molecules all the way up through the length scales, and ending with imaging of tissues. So that nonbiologists can appreciate the significance of these studies, special attention has been paid to a description of the samples and to point out the motivation of these studies and their implications for the field of medicine.