Published October 30, 2023
| Version 1
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PyFMLab: Open-source software for atomic force microscopy microrheology data analysis
Authors/Creators
- 1. Universite de Lille, CNRS, INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017, CILL—Center of Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, F-59000, France
- 2. Aix-Marseille Univ., CNRS, INSERM, LAI, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, 13009, France
- 3. Optics 11 B.V, Amsterdam, 1101BM, The Netherlands
- 4. Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, Grenoble, F-38000, France
Description
Just like we can test the ripeness of fruit by touching it, we can use our hands to gently touch an object and determine if it is soft or stiff. Doctors use this technique, called palpation, to explore our organs and check for signs of disease. We can think about doing something similar, but on a much smaller scale — the nanoscale — so small that you cannot even see it with your naked eye. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) allows to apply palpation at the nanoscale.
AFM is a powerful tool that allows scientists to examine incredibly small objects, like individual cells or molecules. AFM uses super sensitive "fingers" to touch and explore things that are too small to be seen under a regular microscope. During the European project Phys2BioMed, we explored how to apply AFM to diagnose diseases using nanopalpation. For example, touching samples from biopsies of patients and determining how soft or stiff they are.
Here's the catch: there is not a single, standardized method or software that can efficiently process all the data obtained from AFM. It's a bit like having a lot of different languages but no universal translator. Just like a scale or a measuring cup are standardized, scientists need to analyze AFM data accurately and consistently. This is crucial to ensure reliable comparisons between results obtained by different researchers on different instruments, something particularly important when the results are to be used for diagnostic or predictive purposes.
To help tackle this problem, we have developed PyFMLab. This software is a reliable and easy-to-use tool that translates AFM data into insights about the tiny structures being studied. By providing a standardized, open-source, modular and accessible way to analyze AFM data, PyFMLab democratizes access to this field of Biophysics, paving the way for clinical applications of AFM.
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