Microscopic evaluation is important for the design and evaluation of a pharmaceutical product after the steps in the drug formulation process. Since atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides the ability to directly investigate surface structure at nanometer-to-subangstrom resolution in ambient and liquid environments, it has been applied to a wide range of pharmaceutical research, and delivers a powerful complement to other common analytical techniques.1,2 This application note describes the use of AFM from the studies of drug crystal growth, particle characterization, and tablet coatings in the manufacture of solid dosage forms.