Handbook of molecular force spectroscopy

Modern materials science and biophysics are increasingly focused on studying and controlling intermolecular interactions on the single-molecule level. Molecular force spectroscopy was developed in the past decade as the result of several unprecedented advances in the capabilities of modern scientific instrumentation, and defines a number of techniques that use mechanical force measurements to study interactions between single molecules and molecular assemblies in chemical and biological systems. Examples of these techniques, which typically target a specific range of experimental systems and geometries, include atomic force microscopy, optical tweezers, surface forces apparatus, and magnetic tweezers.