Dresden 2026 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 14: Poster Session II

BP 14.43: Poster

Dienstag, 10. März 2026, 18:00–21:00, P2

Large-area AFM SmartMapping for contact lens characterization and mechanobiological tissue analysis — •Jörg Barner, Andre Körnig, Joan-Carles Escolano, and Thomas Henze — BioAFM, Bruker Nano Surfaces, Am Studio 2D, 12489 Berlin, Germany

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides quantitative nanoscale characterization of soft materials and biological systems, enabling analysis of surface topography, elasticity, and viscoelasticity under physiologically relevant conditions. We applied AFM to two distinct systems: ophthalmic contact lenses and highly corrugated tissues. For lenses, SmartMapping was used to acquire large-area curvature maps (up to several millimeters) combined with localized high-resolution measurements of nanomechanical properties. Silicone hydrogel lenses were analyzed, revealing heterogeneities in elasticity critical for balancing oxygen permeability and comfort. For biological samples, SmartMapping enabled automated imaging of rough, heterogeneous specimens such as 3D tumor spheroids (>100 um) and brain tissue sections (>300 um), capturing stiffness gradients relevant to mechanotransduction and transport. The synchronized XYZ-piezo and AFM head movement ensured reproducible mapping across extended areas without manual intervention, overcoming limitations of conventional AFM in lateral range and throughput. These results demonstrate that SmartMapping integrates large-scale imaging with nanoscale precision, establishing AFM as a robust platform for material optimization in ophthalmology and spatially resolved mechanobiological studies.

Keywords: AFM; mechanobiology; mapping; elasticity; viscosity