BioAFM Applications in Cosmetics and Healthcare

A BioAFM is an atomic force microscope (AFM) adapted, in particular, for the study of biological samples and soft matter. These include fragile and challenging samples such as single molecules, nucleic acids, living cells, and tissues — all under near‑physiological conditions and without staining, labeling, or damaging their structures.

These capabilities help researchers and developers:

• Study the effect of active ingredients on biological matter (e.g., skin, hair, and dental or ocular materials).
• Measure and monitor batch‑to‑batch consistency and product efficacy, safety, and stability.
• Develop and refine advanced biomaterials and delivery systems (e.g., nanoparticles and nanocarriers).
  

 
Expand the accordion sections below to learn how:

The application areas below show how BioAFMs support R&D, QC, and innovation across the cosmetics and healthcare pipeline. To go straight to specific examples, you can jump to our use‑cases in skincare and dermatology, haircare, dental care, and contact‑lens research.

Challenge:

Both industrial R&D teams and academic researchers often work with limited quantities of costly ingredients that require highly sensitive, non-destructive analysis techniques.

Many conventional analytical tools rely on bulk-averaged or purely qualitative measurements, making it difficult to resolve nanoscale properties or interactions and to correlate them reliably with actual product performance.

Solution:

BioAFMs can measure very small sample quantities, making it ideal for the analysis of costly substances, small molecules, and active ingredients used in advanced formulations, providing direct insights into how these interact at the cellular and molecular levels.

Furthermore, high‑speed imaging modes enable users to study dynamic mechanisms, for example, how creams, serums, or active ingredients affect proteins, biomolecules, or cells.

Benefits:

• Accelerate product optimization by revealing nanoscale effects of ingredients on structure, mechanics, and interactions.
• Optimized upstream testing by ruling out weak candidates earlier in the development pipeline.
• Obtain more accurate, true‑to‑life information by preserving sample integrity and enabling measurement under near‑physiological or realistic‑use conditions.

Challenge

Many QC methods rely on bulk or destructive tests that cannot reveal variantions in nanoscale properties, surface structure, or biomechnaical characteristics. Rising regulatory demands and consumer expectations are increasing pressure on manufacturers to deliver quantitative, traceable data across raw materials, intermediates, and finished goods.

Solution:

BioAFMs provide high‑resolution, nanoscale surface and mechanical information that helps QC teams detect early indicators of variability before they escalate. The system produces detailed maps of particle morphology, coating uniformity, and viscoelastic response, offering visibility into changes that conventional methods may overlook.

Automated workflows and AI‑supported analysis enable repeatable, operator‑independent measurements and make nanoscale metrology practical for real‑time quality assessment.

Benefits:

• Detect subtle nanoscale changes in structure, coating uniformity, or mechanical response before they affect product performance.
• Support quality compliance with quantitative, traceable data.
• Improve customer loyalty with consistent product quality and evidence-based claims.

Challenge:

A new generation of cosmetic and healthcare products relies on tailored performance. As product lines become more targeted, R&D teams increasingly depend on nanoscale evidence to differentiate performance, validate claims, and design customized solutions.

Solution:

BioAFMs provide high‑resolution imaging and quantitative nanomechanical measurements under near‑physiological or controlled environmental conditions. It supports label‑free analysis of soft and living samples, integrates with optical or spectroscopic techniques, and incorporates automated workflows such as SmartMapping, for large‑area, nanoscale‑precision measurements. These capabilities allow teams to compare formulation variants or new material concepts with quantitative detail that conventional tools cannot provide.

Benefits:

• Support development of personalized or high‑specificity formulations with nanoscale structural and biomechanical evidence.
• Quantitative analysis of product performance based on mechanical properties, such as texture, adhesion, stiffness, and surface behavior.
• Provide the data needed to substantiate performance claims for innovative or tailored cosmetic and healthcare products.

Skincare & Dermatology

Atomic force microscopy measurements provide a nanoscale view of skin structure and mechanics that goes beyond traditional histology. By combining high‑resolution topography measurements with quantitative nanomechanical mapping, researchers can evaluate collagen structure, tissue stiffness, and the effects of care products on skin cells in environments that closely resembles real-life biological conditions.

These capabilities help developers and clinicians:

• Distinguish subtle structural and mechanical alterations.
• Evaluate product performance and the efficacy of treatments.
• Generate evidence-based claims in personalized skincare and therapeutic formulations.

Hair Care

The cuticle surface governs friction, adhesion, and wear — properties that directly influence smoothness, manageability, and overall feel. Atomic force microscopy can be used to measure tribological behavior under specific conditions and in controlled environments, offering insights beyond visual and macroscopic assessment.

These datasets support:

• Performance comparison across formulations.
• Validation of “smoothness” or “reduced friction” claims.
• R&D studies exploring the effectivity of cuticle protection, hydration, and repair.

Dental Care

For tooth care products, the challenge is balancing cleaning or whitening effectiveness with enamel and dentin preservation. Atomic force microscopy allows developers to evaluate abrasives, bleaching agents, desensitizing ingredients, and protective coatings by visualizing and quantifying nanoscale changes in tooth structure and mechanics.

These measurements help teams:

• Compare erosive or protective effects across formulations.
• Visualize and quantify dentin tubule sealing in desensitizing products.
• Support claims such as “protects enamel,” or “reduces sensitivity” with evidence.

Contact Lenses

BioAFM enables nanoscale evaluation of lens materials, coatings, and surface‑treatment technologies in fluid or under near‑physiological conditions. By combining high‑resolution imaging with quantitative nanomechanical mapping, teams can:

• Analyze surface topography, stiffness, and viscoelastic characteristics relevant to comfort and wearability.
• Assist the development of specialized materials and surface coatings that reduce irriation and the risk of infection.
• Support quality assurance during the manufacturing process.

These measurements help developers to improve the comfort, durability, and overall ocular compatibility of contact lenses by providing quantitative data that traditional optical methods often cannot deliver.

All Bruker BioAFM systems can support cosmetics and healthcare applications. Based on the workflows, automation needs, and nanoscale characterization strategies discussed by our application scientists, we recommend that interested users start by exploring the systems highlighted below, which align most closely with the studies and industrial use‑cases described above.