Symposium CH03-Towards Quantitative Characterization of Soft Materials by Scanning Probe Microscopy—Beyond Imaging

Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) stands as a formidable technology capable of visualizing, characterizing, and even manipulating nanostructures through the use of a sharp probe. The versatility of SPM makes it a valuable tool for addressing diverse challenges across a wide array of domains considering soft materials, such as energy harvesting, organic electronics, biosensors, self-assembly, biotechnology, life sciences, mechanobiology, cosmetics, and medical applications, particularly in the field of nanomedicine. This cutting-edge field has seen remarkable advancements in recent years, continually introducing new techniques and applications, especially in the realm of soft materials and biological specimens, including disease-related samples with diagnostic potential. Nevertheless, SPM is not without its own set of challenges. Precisely measuring the mechanical properties of materials and effectively handling the substantial amount of data generated by SPM techniques remain major hurdles.

The primary aim of this symposium is to provide an international platform for the exchange of research findings among globally recognized experts actively engaged in the domain of scanning probe microscopy applied to soft polymeric (bio)materials and living organisms. Industrial partners will also be part of the dialogue, facilitating discussions on the potential of novel SPM approaches. This symposium serves as a unique opportunity to both showcase and deliberate on the current state of SPM methods when dealing with challenges and to chart the course for future applications in the context of soft polymeric (bio)materials and living organisms. Furthermore, this symposium is part of the broader Materials Research Society series focused on SPM techniques. The track record of this series in uniting leading figures from academia and industry, as well as attracting budding researchers and students, has been remarkable. Importantly, this event is expected to span a range of disciplines, encompassing material sciences, engineering, biophysics, condensed matter physics, and the development of cutting-edge instrumentation.

Topics will include:

Mapping at the nanoscale of the mechanical (and viscoelastic) properties of soft materials (polymer blends, nanocomposites, hydrogels, biopolymers, bioglues …) cells and viruses
Nano-mechanical properties of soft materials (acquisition and analysis)
Towards industrial, biological, and medical applications (food, personal care, cosmetics, dermatology)
Characterization of the next-generation cosmetic bio-sourced materials
Mechanical manipulation of single molecules
SPM-based mechanobiology
Cells nanomechanics as a medical diagnostic tool
Combined multimodal SPM and correlative imaging modes (Raman, IR, SEM, …)
High speed and high-resolution SPM (instrumentation and data analysis)
Novel methodologies/processes for the data analysis including advanced statistics and Machine Learning