Single-molecule atomic force microscopy on live cells compares aptamer and antibody rupture forces

Some researchers have questioned whether synthetic aptamers bind as robustly as natural antibodies. To address this issue, we used single-molecule atomic force microscopy to measure the rupture force between a protein and both its aptamer and its antibody. The rupture force on live cell membranes between the aptamer and protein was 46 +/- 26 pN; the force with the antibody was 68 +/- 33 pN, we conclude that the binding forces are about equal.