Premium
AFM characterization of biomolecules in physiological environment by an advanced nanofabricated probe
Author(s) -
Moretti M.,
Canale C.,
Canale C.,
Francardi M.,
Dante S.,
De Angelis F.,
Di Fabrizio E.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.22122
Subject(s) - raman spectroscopy , characterization (materials science) , nanotechnology , biomolecule , nanoscopic scale , atomic force microscopy , force spectroscopy , chemical imaging , nanometre , resolution (logic) , materials science , scanning probe microscopy , microscopy , spectroscopy , chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , optics , physics , remote sensing , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , geology , computer science , hyperspectral imaging , composite material , chromatography
Many relevant questions in biology and medicine require both topography and chemical information with high spatial resolution. Several biological events that occur at the nanometer scale level need to be investigated in physiological conditions. In this regard Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is one of the most powerful tools for label‐free nanoscale characterization of biological samples in liquid environment. Recently, the coupling of Raman spectroscopy to scanning probe microscopies has opened new perspectives on this subject; however, the coupling of quality AFM spectroscopy with Raman spectroscopy in the same probe is not trivial. In this work we report about the AFM capabilities of an advanced high‐resolution probe that has been previously nanofabricated by our group for coupling with Raman spectroscopy applications. We investigate its use for liquid AFM measurements on biological model samples like lipid bilayers, amyloid fibrils, and titin proteins. We demonstrate topography resolution down to nanometer level, force measurement and stable imaging capability. We also discuss about its potential as nanoscale chemical probe in liquid phase. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.