AFM nanoshaving: A novel prospect for the structural comparison of bioreceptor layers

Abstract

In this work we present a nanoscale method called AFM nanoshaving (atomic force microscopy) as a prospect for the structural comparison of bioreceptor layers. Upon nanoshaving a biofunctionalized surface -such as DNA receptor chains on a gold thin film substrate -a higher pressing force is applied with the AFM tip during the scan, which removes the previously chemically attached bioreceptor molecules. By analyzing the cross sections of the shaved and untouched regions of the surface it is possible to gain information about the orientation of the receptor molecules which is not possible by any other indirect measurement methods. Our work discusses the possibilities of this novel technique and presents pilot results about the characterization of DNA based bioreceptor layers with AFM nanoshaving. 978-1-4577-2112-0/2011/$ 26.00

AFM Nanoshaving of Covalently Modified Graphite for Studying Molecular Self-Assembly under Lateral Nanoconfinement

“…Minimizing the applied vertical force for a given tip speed, feedback loop responsivity, and area to pixel density is crucial to retaining the probes’ structural integrity during a nanoshaving experiment for as long as possible. − Optimizing this force parameter increases the probability of high-resolution imaging upon subsequent scanning. The pixel density was kept constant (unless stated otherwise) in relation to the size of the nanoshaved area at ∼2.6 nm for each pixel.…”