During the last three decades, a series of key technological improvements turned atomic
force microscopy (AFM) into a nanoscopic laboratory to directly observe and chemically …

We survey recent progress in the application of nanoindentation to characterize the local
mechanical properties of polymer gels and biological tissues. We review the theories …

Dynamic force spectroscopy probes the kinetic and thermodynamic properties of single
molecules and molecular assemblies. Here, we propose a simple procedure to extract …

Mechanical forces along a polymer backbone can be used to bring about remarkable
reactivity in embedded mechanically active functional groups, but little attention has been …

For rational design of advanced polymeric materials, it is critical to establish a clear
mechanistic link between the molecular structure of a polymer and the emergent bulk …

Single-molecule force spectroscopy is used to observe the irreversible extension of a gem-
dibromocyclopropane (g DBC)-functionalized polybutadiene under tension, a process akin …

Atomic force spectroscopy (AFS) is one of the most promising and powerful tools to get
information on biorecognition processes at single molecule resolution. AFS allows to …

Force reactive functional groups, or mechanophores, have emerged as the basis of a
potential strategy for sensing and countering stress-induced material failure. The general …

In dynamic force spectroscopy, single (bio-) molecular bonds are actively broken to assess
their range and strength. At low loading rates, the experimentally measured statistical …

The mechanical properties of DNA nanostructures are of widespread interest as applications
that exploit their stability under constant or intermittent external forces become increasingly …