Figure 1.
(A) Fundamental principles of AFM showing interactions between the tip and probed surface. (B) The force-distance curve while a (modified) tip is brought in proximity to another cell, bacterium, or biomaterial. The curves, when the tip is approaching or retreating from the sample, are drawn in blue and red respectively. Receptor-ligand bonds, when strained due to increasing detachment force, are marked as ‘jumps’, while ‘tethers’ appear when detachment is complete at Fmax. The shaded area denotes the total work done (Adhwork) against adhesive forces.