Surface topology lipid

The AFM produces an image by moving a very sharp tip across a surface this can be the top surface of a lipid bilayer deposited on a substrate. The AFM tip, mounted on the end of a flexible cantilever, is deflected up or down as it scans across the surface of the sample, mapping the surface topology. As the tip is deflected, the position of a laser beam reflected... 

Molecular imaging includes mapping of specific chemicals and chemical properties across heterogeneous surfaces, such as lipids across cell surfaces, proteins atop tissue slices, and carbonyl grouping on carbon surfaces. Surface imaging includes exploration of topology and surface features in addition to chemical composition. 

There are only about 1,000 to 10,000 receptors per target cell, occupying about 1% of the membrane surface [5]. The lipid phase of the cell membrane is important for the function and the topological deployment of the receptor proteins [6]. Particular lipids may even be involved in functional receptor lipid aggregates [7]. 

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