Control of Ligand-Binding Specificity Using Photocleavable Linkers in AFM Force Spectroscopy

In recent decades, atomic force microscopy (AFM), in particular the force spectroscopy mode, has become a method of choice to study biomolecular interactions at the single-molecule level. However, grafting procedures as well as determining binding specificity remain challenging. We report here an innovative approach based on a photocleavable group that enables in situ release of the ligands bound to the AFM tip and thus allows direct assessment of the binding specificity. Applicable to a wide variety of molecules, the strategy presented here provides new opportunities to study specific interactions and deliver single molecules with high spatiotemporal resolution in a wide range of applications, including AFM-based cell biology.