Imaging Bacteriophage T4 on Patterned Organosilane Monolayers by Scanning Force Microscopy

Abstract

A patterned organosilane monolayer consisting of CH3-terminated islands surrounded by a CF3-terminated continuous phase is used as a template for controlling the adsorption of biological molecules. In coadsorption of bovine serine albumin (BSA) and bacteriophage T4 and its tail, the T4 adheres to the CF3-terminated surfaces while the BSA is restricted to the CH3-terminated islands. The strong affinity of the T4 for the continuous phase allows detailed imaging by scanning force microscopy in both topographic and frictional force modes. Structural features of the tail tubes are clearly recognized. The baseplates at end of the tubes exhibit different configurations, and in images of T4 obtained by frictional force one can clearly distinguish head, neck, tail, baseplate and fibers. For giant T4 with elongated heads, the surface lattice of the head and the sheath annuli of the tail are resolved in some detail.

Influence of substrate hydrophobicity on the adsorption of an amphiphilic diblock copolymer

“…As their height is about 5 nm, their apparent width of 29 ± 5 nm could possibly be due to AFM convolution. A spherical particle with a diameter d of 5 nm, revealed by a tip with a radius of curvature R of 20 nm, would have an apparent size along the surface plane equal to W = (d2R) 0.5 = 28 nm [15]. A particle of radius about 5 nm is compatible with a compact dried micelle.…”

Fabrication of Nanometer-Sized Protein Patterns Using Atomic Force Microscopy and Selective Immobilization

“…An alternative approach of nanofabrication involves the use of organic thin films with two or more components; one with reactive terminal groups, which can bind proteins, and the other one, which is biologically inert (Fang and Knobler, 1996;Fang et al, 1997). Typically, the two components are mixed in solution and then form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) or a Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film (Fang and Knobler, 1996;Fang et al, 1997). The resulting thin films consist of domains of bioactive molecules inlaid in nonreactive assemblies.…”

Nano-scale friction of polystyrene in air and in vacuum

“…LFM can be used in order to get information about molecular mobility at polymer surfaces [11][12][13], and is often used to quantify nano-friction properties. Scanning probe methods have been indeed applied to the investigation of nano-scale tribology [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Performing parallel investigations of identical systems on both macro and nano-scales, nano-friction measurements allow a better understanding of macrotribology properties.…”