The desorption process of macromolecules adsorbed on interfaces: the force spectroscopy approach.

They're flexible and sticky: While investigations of the very stiff DNA molecular conformation on surfaces have been made, the equivalent for more typical macromolecules is complicated by their shorter persistance length. A gentle detachment study with a polymer bound to an SFM tip allows the forces between the polymer and surface to be probed; the detachement force required depends on the surface conformation, whether only a small loop or a long tail must be peeled from the surface, as shown by the cartoon.