AFM and force spectroscopy for single cell and single molecule studies.
(a) Height image of bovine capillary endothelial cells on gelatin substrate;
(b) Deflection (feedback error) image of these cells show cytoskeletal detail;
(c) Specific ligand-receptor rupture event (*) for streptavidin substrate and
biotin-functionalized cantilever tip; (d) Aspecific binding for clean glass surface
and biotin-functionalized cantilever tip. 1µm scan.

Images courtesy of A. Chandrasekaran and K.J. Van Vliet.
K.J. Van Vliet et al. / Acta Materialia 51 (2003) 5881–5905.