APPLICATIONS OF AFM FOR STUDIES OF BIOMATERIALS

Organic, polymeric and biological samples form a class of materials wi th increasing interest from both the fundamental and applicational poi nts of view. Their characterization is a most challenging issue due to their nature. As soft and fragile matters, they are subjected among o thers, to radiation damage and deformation. in addition, they are gene rally hydrated structures and so prone to denaturation under vacuum of analysis chamber. Thus numerous possible artifacts can be induced in the course of their characterization.