Local mapping of the nanoscale viscoelastic properties of fluid membranes by AFM nanorheology.

ABSTRACT: Biological membranes are intrinsically dynamic entities that continually adapt their biophysical properties and molecular organisation to support cellular function. Current microscopy techniques can derive high-resolution structural information of labelled molecules but quantifying the associated viscoelastic behaviour with nanometre precision remains challenging. Here, we develop an approach based on atomic force microscopy in conjunction with fast nano-actuators to map the viscoelastic response of unlabelled supported membranes with nanometre spatial resolution. On fluid membranes, we show that the method can quantify local variations in the molecular mobility of the lipids and derive a diffusion coefficient. We confirm our experimental approach with molecular dynamics simulations, also

SUBMITTER: Trewby W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12019565 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature