Atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides the ability to perform three-dimensional measurements of surface structures at nanometer-to-subangstrom resolution in ambient and liquid environments. These capabilities have led to ground-breaking life sciences advances in the investigation of DNA, proteins, and cells.1 In particular, pharmaceutical research involves a number of applications that are rapidly benefiting from AFM,2 both as a standalone technique and as a powerful complement to the other common analytical techniques currently available. This application note examines how AFM offers the unique capability of direct, individual investigation of gene delivery vehicles at high resolution.