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Atomic Force Microscopy for Physiological Studies at the Nano Scale

A major barrier to the advancement of scientific understanding in a field is intimately tied to technical limitations.  Thus, important new advances are frequently catalyzed by the introduction of new technology into a field.  Developments in the use of Atomic Force Microscopy for biological studies represents an example of how a new technology is stimulating advances in microscopy, understanding cell and subcellular mechanical properties, cell signaling, molecular sensing and recognition. This workshop will include an introduction and four presentationsby recognized experts in the field that will highlight application of atomic force microscopy to address questions of relevance to physiologists and cell biologists.  The presentations will be designed to provide the audience with an overview of the general theory and principles of operation behind atomic force microscopy followed by specific examples of how this technology can be used. 

Our principal aim in this workshop is to highlight several applications of atomic force microscopy that cover studies of cell mechanical properties and responses to mechanical responses, cell-cell adhesive interactions, cell-protein (receptor-ligand) interactions, and molecular recognition imaging.

The workshop will include an introduction that highlights the history of Atomic Force Microscopy and its use in experimental biology and medicine and presents the conceptual format the areas to be covered by the various speakers.  The first speaker will be Dr. Peter Hinterdorfer, a recognized leader in the field of molecular recognition imaging. Molecular recognition imaging provides insights into the dynamics of the receptor-ligand recognition process and gives investigators information about the nature of binding sites, binding energy barriers, and the kinetics of reactions. Applications of this approach are useful for study of isolated proteins, native membranes, viruses, and intact cells. The second speaker will be Dr. Michael Horton who has been a major proponent of the use of atomic force microscopy to probe the mechanical properties of osteoblasts and the responses of osteoblasts to applied mechanical forces.  He has been a pioneer in the hybridization of atomic force microscopy with confocal microscopy for fluorescence studies in order to simultaneously combine measurements made with the atomic force microscope with fluorescent signals relevant to cell signaling. The third speaker will be Dr. Andreea Trache, an optical physicist with biophysics expertise, who will discuss a unique atomic force-multioptical imaging integrated microscope that she has designed for studies of vascular cell mechanotransduction, extracellular matrix-integrin interactions and focal contact remodeling in response to applied mechanical force.  The fourth and last speaker will be Dr. Vincent Moy who has expertise using the atomic force microscope to characterize the mechanical properties of receptor-ligand interactions as a function of the mechanical loading rate and has adapted his approaches to permit studies of white cell-endothelial cell adhesive interactions using intact cells.