Atomic force spectroscopy is a promising tool to study contractile properties of cardiac cells

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a rather new method with increasing potential in analyzing various biosamples. Moreover, it can serve as a multi-functional device in the studies of biological specimens under physiological conditions. However, it is becoming increasingly popular among biochemists and biologists, it is not often used in cardiology. Heart disease causes millions of deaths every year. A common point in all heart diseases is the inferior function of cardiomyocytes, which are the contracting unit of the heart. Therefore, these cells are a frequent target of scientific studies. However, few of them use innovative techniques such as AFM and related methods or parallel combinations with complementary techniques such as cell potential measurements. The aim of this review is to illustrate the potential of AFM microscopy in the study of cardiac cells, comparing it with related methods and other techniques used to study the biomechanics and electrophysiology of this cell type. A better understanding of these methods may lead to a better description of the pathophysiology of the heart disease and an improved understanding of the effect of selected drugs.

Automated summary

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a promising method for analyzing biological samples, particularly in studying biological specimens under physiological conditions. However, it is not commonly used in cardiology research, even though it has the potential to contribute to a better understanding of heart diseases and the effects of drugs. This review aims to highlight the potential of AFM microscopy in studying cardiac cells and compare it with other techniques used in biomechanics and electrophysiology research.