Scanning Tunneling Microscopy of Biological Structures: An Elusive Goal for Many Years

Abstract

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is a technique that can be used to directly observe individual biomolecules at near-molecular scale. Within this framework, STM is of crucial significance because of its role in the structural analysis, the understanding the imaging formation, and the development of relative techniques. Four decades after its invention, it is pertinent to ask how much of the early dream has come true. In this study, we aim to overview different analyses for DNA, lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. The relevance of STM imaging is exhibited as an opportunity to assist measurements and biomolecular identification in nanobiotechnology, nanomedicine, biosensing, and other cutting-edge applications. We believe STM research is still an entire science research ecosystem for joining several areas of expertise towards a goal settlement that has been elusive for many years.

Synthesis and Characterization of Nanoparticles for Antimicrobial Applications-A Review

“…The first characteristic is due to the quantum size effects, by which the properties of a material change with its size in the nanometer regime. The second characteristic is made possible by the invention of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), scanning probe microscopy (SPM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques [13]. The third characteristic is a result of the developments of various nanofabrication techniques such as nanoimprint lithography (NIL) using electron beams or X-rays and due to a physical phenomenon known as ''quantum confinement'' effect [14].…”

Advances in probing single biomolecules: From DNA bases to glycans

“…Two widely used branches of SPM, Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), offer unprecedented opportunities to study biomolecules. [ 32–36 ] STM and AFM can image biomolecules under different conditions without damaging their structures and biological activities, making them ideal for studying delicate biomolecules.…”

“…Two widely used branches of SPM, Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), offer unprecedented opportunities to study biomolecules. [32][33][34][35][36] STM and AFM can image biomolecules under different conditions without damaging their structures and biological activities, making them ideal for studying delicate biomolecules. SPM allows for real-time biomolecule imaging, meaning that dynamic processes, such as conformational changes or interactions between biomolecules, can be obtained in situ.…”

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Study of Lipoic Acid, Mannose, and cRGD@AuNPs Conjugates

“…In particular, STM has been employed in the analysis of thiolate molecules on AuNPs and Ag nanoclusters, showing that these molecules can form patterns on AuNPs [ 15 , 16 ]. Also, many biomolecules such as lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids have been imaged near molecular resolution on flat surfaces of Cu, Au, and highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) [ 17 ]. In previous works, we employed STM to obtain information of individual organic molecules and proteins deposited on HOPG and the surfaces of carbon nanomaterials [ 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

“…In previous works, we employed STM to obtain information of individual organic molecules and proteins deposited on HOPG and the surfaces of carbon nanomaterials [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Also, conventional techniques employed in the analysis of biomolecules, such as circular dichroism (CD) or X-ray crystallography, present several limitations for the rutinary analysis of biofunctionalized nanoparticles, for example, the necessity of high concentrations of conjugates or the compulsory requirement of diffracting crystals [ 17 ].…”