UMEX Viewer - Software Suite for High-Speed AFM Data Analysis and Its Applications

Abstract

Recent technical advances in atomic force microscopy (AFM) have led to the development of high-speed AFM (HS-AFM), which enables video-rate imaging and direct visualization of the nanoscale dynamics of biomolecules functioning in solution. Because HS-AFM rapidly generates large datasets, dedicated software is essential for efficient processing, organization, and analysis. Recent improvements in imaging speed have further increased data throughput, underscoring the need for faster analysis software with improved usability. To address this need, we developed Ultrafast Microscopy Exploration (UMEX) Viewer, a software suite for HS-AFM data analysis. UMEX Viewer provides an integrated environment for HS-AFM data handling, including image processing, drift correction, image and movie export, data management, and quantitative analysis. These capabilities have enabled the software to be applied to a wide range of recent studies. In this article, we describe the core functions of UMEX Viewer and demonstrate its practical applications for HS-AFM data analysis aimed at elucidating biological functions.