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Imaging polysaccharides by atomic force microscopy
Author(s) -
Kirby Andrew R.,
Gunning A. Patrick,
Morris Victor J.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0282(199603)38:3<355::aid-bip8>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - polysaccharide , chemistry , gellan gum , atomic force microscopy , carrageenan , mica , pectin , xanthan gum , microscopy , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , materials science , optics , biochemistry , food science , composite material , physics , engineering , rheology
Techniques have been developed for the routine reliable imaging of polysaccharides by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The polysaccharides are deposited from aqueous solution onto the surface of freshly cleaved mica, air dried, and then imaged under alcohols. The rationale behind the development of the methodology is described and data is presented for the bacterial polysaccharides xanthan, acetan, and the plant polysaccharides 1‐carrageenan and pectin. Studies on uncoated polysaccharides have demonstrated the improved resolution achievable when compared to more traditional metal‐coated samples or replicas. For acetan the present methodology has permitted imaging of the helical structure. Finally, in addition to data obtained on individual polysaccharides, AFM images have also been obtained of the network structures formed by κ‐carrageenan and gellan gum. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.