FastForce Volume

Traditional Force Volume is a trusted technique used extensively in biomechanical investigations. Researchers interested in how molecules and cells respond to mechanical stimuli or exert forces on their environments can turn to AFM to obtain highly accurate Force-Distance Measurements in a two-dimensional array. Force variations and topography images are obtained, along with individual force curves at any point.

Bruker’s FastForce Volume extends the traditional technique to ramp rates exceeding 100Hz while maintaining pN trigger forces. This accelerates image acquisition by more than 10x and closes the gap to the frequencies employed byPeakForce Tapping®. As a result, the combination of FastForce Volume and PeakForce Tapping allows investigation of mechanical properties on ramp rates from sub-Hz to several kHz, on soft biological samples as well as polymers and other materials.

When used together with thePeakForce QNM®high-accuracy kit, the new FastForce Volume also provides quantitative nanomechanical data out of the box, without any need of a reference sample. Bruker’s precalibrated probes, their integration into the workflow in the software, and the availability of property maps real-time and off-line in FastForce Volume mode enable acquisition of this calibrated data without added complexity.

Force Volume Mapping now includes real-time and offline quantitative property calculations. Calculations include DMT modulus, tip-sample adhesion, and the Sneddon modulus model, ideal for soft biological samples.

Force Volume is a valuable legacy technique in Bruker’s Nanomechanics Package. Force Volume users will want to explore the game-changing new mode, PeakForce QNM.