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A Methods Primer about "Fluidic Force Microscopy" was published in Nature Reviews.

Abstract

Fluidic force microscopy is a versatile bionanotechnology platform that integrates atomic force microscopy with microfluidic probes. This hybrid approach enables precise measurement and application of forces across sub-nanonewton to micronewton ranges while simultaneously dispensing or sampling sub-femtolitre to picolitre volumes, all with real-time optical visualization at sub-micrometre resolution. In recent years, fluidic force microscopy has emerged as an enabling tool for minimally invasive single-cell manipulation, subcellular analysis and high-resolution nanoprinting applications. This Primer describes the fundamental principles underlying the combination of atomic force microscopy with microchannelled cantilevers, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding the unique capabilities of fluidic force microscopy and its rapidly expanding range of applications in biological research and nanotechnology.