Advances in probing single biomolecules: From DNA bases to glycans

Imaging biomolecules in real space is crucial for gaining a comprehensive understanding of the properties and functions of biological systems at the most fundamental level. Among the various imaging techniques available for biomolecules and their assembled nanostructures, scanning probe microscopy (SPM) provides a powerful and nondestructive imaging option. SPM is unique in visualizing intrinsically disordered biomolecules at the nanometer scale (e.g., glycans). This review highlights recent achievements in studying biomolecules using SPM technique, focusing on DNA bases, amino acids, proteins, and glycans. The atomic-level analysis of biomolecules made possible by SPM allows for a more accurate definition of the local structure-property relationship. High-resolution SPM imaging of single biomolecules offers a new way to study basic processes of life at the molecular level.