Manipulation force microscopy

The manipulation force microscope is a novel atomic force microscope adapte d to measuring the force necessary to displace micron-size samples adhering to surfaces. It has successfully characterized the adhesion of both protei ns and living cells to substrates. This instrument enables measurement of s amples not previously accessible to atomic force microscopes. Here, we give a detailed account of this new method, and report on computer simulations and models to assist the interpretation of data. (C) 1999 American Institut e of Physics. [S0034-6748(99)01406-9].