New Topics New College Medicine, Atom by Atom: From the Atomic Force Microscope to the Clinic

For 25 years, the Paul Hansma Research Group at the University of California at Santa Barbara has been developing Atomic Force Microscopes (AFMs) for a startling variety of scientific uses. This ingenious device -- New College uses one in its own research on carbon nanotubes - has shown there are adhesive molecules in abalone shell, bone and other materials that use the nanoscale mechanism of "sacrificial bonds" and "hidden length" to dissipate energy and protect these materials from fracture. These instruments have the potential to diagnose bone fragility and guide development of new therapies for decreasing bone fragility. Hansma is a New College alumnus.

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