原子分辨显微分析技术研究进展

非接触原子力显微技术(NC-AFM)近年来发展迅速. NC-AFM对单个分子的成像和谱学实现了原子分辨和单个化学键分辨. NC-AFM自身功能的拓展及其与不同探针技术的联用将为材料、物理、化学和生命科学有关的研究提供崭新的思路. 本文首先介绍NC-AFM和qPlus 传感器的基本原理, 然后讨论原子尺度的相互作用力和短程力的精确测量, 总结近年来NC-AFM在原子尺度的化学结构成像、化学识别、电子结构性质分析以及原子操纵技术中的研究进展, 并讨论了开尔文探针力显微技术(KPFM)在局域接触势差(LCPD)测量方面的应用. 最后展望了NC-AFM面临的挑战和发展机遇.     

液体环境单分子免疫球蛋白G的原子力显微镜高分辨成像

原子力显微镜技术( AFM)具有纳米级高分辨成像能力,是研究生物大分子结构和功能的重要工具之一。制备合适的样品是获取高分辨成像的关键要素。本研究结合DNA折纸技术,将抗原分子修饰在DNA折纸上,通过分子识别作用,抗体分子与抗原分子特异性结合,形成由DNA折纸和抗原抗体复合物构成的纳米结构。利用DNA折纸在云母表面上的吸附特点,使得抗体分子选择性地吸附在衬底表面上,由此获得了液体环境中的单个地高辛抗体免疫球蛋白G( IgG)分子的“Y”超微结构形貌。本方法简单、方便,为AFM在单分子水平上检测和表征生物分子结构和功能提供帮助。     

扫描探针显微技术在TiO2表面研究中的应用

对近年来扫描探针显微（SPM）技术（扫描隧道显微镜STM和原子力显微镜AFM）在TiO2表面的形貌、结构和物理化学性质研究中的应用进行了综述。     

基于原子力显微镜研究阿霉素与不同种类细胞间的相互作用

原子力显微镜(AFM)因其制样简单以及高分辨成像特点,因此在药物与细胞相互作用的研究中具有越来越广泛的应用.Girasole等用AFM观察了在药物、低离子浓度等条件下的红细胞与正常红细胞之间表面微观结构的差别.     

原子力显微镜在纳米生物材料研究中的应用

在过去的20年里,原子力显微镜(AFM)在纳米生物材料领域有着广泛的应用。AFM可有力地揭示纳米生物材料的表面结构与力学性质,并且可作为纳米加工工具对其进行操作与处理。本文综述了AFM在纳米生物材料中的最新应用进展,包括纳米生物材料的成像与表征,力学性能测量和纳米加工。AFM可用来观察纳米生物材料的表面形貌并对其特征高度和表面粗糙度进行分析,还可对其动态过程进行原位观察。通过AFM相图还可得到有时候高度图无法获取的一些表面特征。AFM力曲线可用于测量针尖与纳米生物材料之间的黏附力及分子内外的相互作用力。AFM纳米压痕技术可用来测量材料的相关力学性质(弹力,杨氏模量,硬度,纳米断裂行为等)。此外,AFM也已经被探索用于精准、可控、可重复地加工纳米生物材料。总之,作为一个强大的纳米技术工具,AFM已成为纳米生物材料相关研究领域的一个理想的表面分析和表面加工工具。     

原子力显微镜在蛋白单分子结构与功能研究中的应用

原子力显微镜(AFM)以其超常的信噪比、空间分辨率和灵活的探测环境使得单个蛋白分子能在生理条件下成像,在蛋白单分子结构与功能研究中得到广泛地应用。论文介绍了AFM在分子马达、光合蛋白、分子伴侣等蛋白表面结构表征中的应用;AFM在蛋白单分子表面的粘弹性、电荷分布、分子间相互作用等物理属性研究中的进展;总结了AFM在蛋白分子功能研究和单分子操纵中的应用。     

利用AFM和SNOM对淋巴细胞膜表面超微结构及其光学性质的初步研究

利用原子力显微镜(Atomic Force Microscopy，AFM)对淋巴细胞表面形貌进行了形态学的初步研究，观察到了其膜表面其他显微技术所不能发现的超微结构．同时也运用扫描近场光学显微镜(Scanning Near field Optical Microscopy，SNOM)对淋巴细胞进行成像，观察了其对光的透射、吸收等光学性质，并对两种成像方法进行了比较．研究发现：淋巴细胞膜表面凹凸不平，分布着大量直径几十到几百纳米不等的小颗粒；淋巴细胞中央部位有自发荧光现象．结果表明，AFM和SNOM可作为进一步探讨淋巴细胞的结构与功能关系的有力工具．     

用AFM研究DL-缬氨酸晶体的结构及其表面分子的排列

利用原子力显微镜(AFM)成像技术来观察DL-缬氨酸晶体表面分子的规则排列, 研究表明对映体分子在DL-缬氨酸晶体中相互配对排列, 每个晶胞单元中包含两个对映体分子, 属于具有中心对称结构 群, 整个晶体是消旋的. 通过原子力显微镜对DL-缬氨酸晶体表面重复单元的测量结果与X衍射数据对比, 发现用AFM观察到的DL-缬氨酸晶体中分子表面形貌的规整排列的距离, 同X衍射得出的三斜晶系晶胞参数数据基本一致, 由此判定该晶体属于三斜晶系而不是单斜晶系. 探讨了利用纳米技术的研究手段在分子水平研究生命起源中的手性问题, 在确定的晶面上通过分子周期性结构排列规律, 对DL-缬氨酸晶体表面分子进行手性识别.     

利用去湿现象制备具有SERS活性的银纳米粒子图案

构建了具有表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)活性的二维有序环状与盘状的银纳米粒子结构, 利用CTAB包覆银纳米粒子的氯仿溶液直接在图案化的金基底上进行去湿, 当改变银纳米粒子的浓度时可以得到不同的图案. 利用原子力显微镜(AFM)对其结构进行了表征, 以4-巯基吡啶作为探针分子, 采用表面增强拉曼成像技术研究了这种基底的SERS活性, 这将为SERS的研究开拓新的领域.     

正常人眼角膜上皮细胞的原子力显微镜观察

应用原子力显微镜(AFM)在单细胞水平上分析了人眼角膜上皮细胞的形貌和机械性质,为进一步探讨人眼角膜上皮细胞结构与功能的关系奠定了基础.将体外培养的人眼角膜上皮细胞用2.5%戊二醛固定,空气中干燥后用原子力显微镜进行观察.从AFM形貌图可知,细胞呈长梭形,膜表面布满颗粒状物质,由AFM附带软件IP2.1的线分析及面分析功能,得到细胞膜表面结构的几何参数,包括高低差Rp-v、均方根粗糙度Rq、平均粗糙度Ra、平均高度Meant Ht.利用AFM高空间分辨的力位移曲线测量系统,可得出细胞膜的粘弹力、硬度和杨氏模量.AFM能对人眼角膜上皮细胞表面的超微结构清晰地成像并提供更多更确切的表面信息,从另一层面增加对眼角膜上皮细胞的认识.     

基于原子力显微镜的单分子力谱在生物研究中的应用

原子力显微镜被广泛应用于生物研究领域,基于原子力显微镜的单分子力谱可以在单分子、单细胞水平上研究生物分子内和分子间的相互作用。 本文介绍了原子力显微镜单分子力谱在生物分子间相互作用、蛋白质去折叠、细胞表面生物分子、细胞力学性质和基于单分子力谱成像等研究中的最新进展。     

Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy of cellulose from Micrasterias denticulata; evidence for a chiral helical microfibril twist

Atomic force microscopy (AFM), tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been used to image the cell wall, ultrathin sections of whole cells and cellulose microfibrils prepared from the green alga Micrasterias denticulata. Measurements of the microfibril dimensions are in agreement with earlier observations carried out by electron microscopy. Images at the molecular level of the surface of the microfibrils were obtained with AFM and show regular periodicities along the microfibril axis that correspond to the fibre and glucose repeat distances of cellulose. Twisted regions visible at intervals along the microfibrils dried down onto substrates were noted to be right-handed in over 100 observations by TEM, AFM and TM-AFM. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Compositional Mapping of Polymer Surfaces by Chemical Force Microscopy Down to the Nanometer Scale: Reactions in Block Copolymer Microdomains

The laterally resolved analysis of the chemical surface composition of surface-treated block copolymers by atomic force microscopy (AFM) pull-off force mapping in the force volume (FV) mode and the automated analysis of the FV data is discussed. Poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PtBA) microdomains residing in a polystyrene (PS) matrix at the surface of cyclohexane-treated polystyrene-block-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PtBA-b-PS) block copolymer thin films were domain-selectively deprotected, activated and chemically modified, as also shown by fluorescence microscopy. AFM pull-off force mapping in conjunction with an automated analysis of the data provided real space evidence for the successful conversion of reactive esters located in the PtBA domains and showed that AFM and related approaches, such as chemical force microscopy (CFM), can indeed contribute to assess changes in heterogeneous surface chemical composition of polymers down to sub-50 nm length scales.     

Determination of solid surface tension from particle-substrate pull-off forces measured with the atomic force microscope

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is capable of solid surface characterization at the microscopic and submicroscopic scales. It can also be used for the determination of surface tension of solids (gamma) from pull-off force (F) measurements, followed by analysis of the measured F values using contact mechanics theoretical models. Although a majority of the literature gamma results was obtained using either Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) or Derjaguin-Muller-Toporov (DMT) models, re-analysis of the published experimental data presented in this paper indicates that these models are regularly misused. Additional complication in determination of gamma values using the AFM technique is that the measured pull-off forces have poor reproducibility. Reproducible and meaningful F values can be obtained with strict control over AFM experimental conditions during the pull-off force measurements (low humidity level, controlled and known loads) for high quality substrates and probes (surfaces should be free of heterogeneity, roughness, and contamination). Any probe or substrate imperfections complicate the interpretation of experimental results and often reduce the quality of the generated data. In this review, surface imperfection in terms of roughness and heterogeneity that influence the pull-off force are analyzed based upon the contact mechanics models. Simple correlations are proposed that could guide in selection and preparation of AFM probes and substrates for gamma determination and selection of loading conditions during the pull-off force measurements. Finally, the possibility of AFM measurements of solid surface tension using materials with rough surfaces is discussed.     

原子力显微镜在生物大分子结构研究中的应用进展

评述了原子力显微镜（ａｔｏｍｉｃ ｆｏｒｃｅ ｍｉｃｒｏｓｃｏｐｙ,ＡＦＭ）的成镜模式与探针技术的发展以及在脱氧核糖核酸、蛋白质和多糖等生物大分子结构研究中的应用进展,并展望了原子力显微镜在此领域的发展前景。     

Atomic Force Microscope Studies of Membranes: Surface Pore Structures of Diaflo Ultrafiltration Membranes

Noncontact atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to investigate the surface pore structure of eight Diaflo ultrafiltration membranes covering a range of nominal molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) from 3000 to 300,000 and manufactured from three different polymer types. Excellent high resolution images were obtained. Analysis of the pore images gave quantitative information on the surface pore structure, in particular the pore size distribution and surface roughness. Such data is compared to that obtained by other techniques. Noncontact AFM is a facile and informative means of studying the surface structure of porous materials such as synthetic membranes.     

Dissolution of the barite (001) surface by the chelating agent DTPA as studied with non-contact atomic force microscopy

DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) is a chelating agent widely used for removal of barium sulfate (barite) scale in the petroleum industry. In this paper we report ex-situ investigations of barite dissolution in deionized water and in 0.18 M DTPA aqueous solutions. Non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) was used to observe dissolution on the BaSO₄ (001) cleavage surface. Dissolution was carried out at room temperature in a 10 ml reactor. Each sample was first etched in solution and dried before examination by NC-AFM. Dissolution on the BaSO₄ (001) surface took place via development of etch pits. In deionized water, triangular etch pits were observed on the (001) terraces at room temperature. And, zigzag shaped etch pits were found at the edges of steps. In DTPA solutions, etch pits on the (001) terraces were observed and these became deeper and longer with increasing time. The geometry of these etch pits was trapezoidal, and/or trapezohedral. To explain this characteristic morphology caused by dissolution we suggest that the active sites of one DTPA molecule bind to two or three Ba²⁺ cations exposed on the (001) surface.     

不同刺激条件下人外周血淋巴细胞超微结构与粘滞力的AFM分析

应用原子力显微镜（atomic force microscopy,AFM）探测了静息、脂多糖（LPS）或伴刀豆蛋白（ConA）活化的人外周血淋巴细胞的形态结构、超微结构及粘滞力特性。从AFM图像可知,经LPS或ConA刺激活化后的淋巴细胞比静息状态的淋巴细胞有所增大,并且表面分布着大小不一的颗粒状聚合物。利用AFM高空间分辨的力位移曲线测量系统,发现经LPS或ConA刺激活化后淋巴细胞的粘滞力是静息状态淋巴细胞的2~3倍。通过AFM探测淋巴细胞活化状态的可视化数据,可以更好地理解淋巴细胞的行为。     

Distribution of olfactory marker protein on a tissue section of vomeronasal organ measured by AFM

Distribution of olfactory marker protein (OMP) on a tissue section of vomeronasal organ (VNO) was successfully measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Anti-OMP antibodies were covalently crosslinked with the tip of the AFM and were used as a probe to observe the distribution of OMP on a tissue section. First, force measurements were performed using a glass surface on which OMP was covalently immobilized to verify the success of tip modification. Clear differences of interaction forces were observed between a specific pair and the control experiments, indicating that the tip preparation succeeded. Next, distributions of OMP on the tissue section were observed by AFM and were compared with immunohistochemical observations. For large scale observation, a microbead was used as a probe in the AFM measurements. The results of the AFM measurements were well overlapped with that of immunohistochemistry, confirming the reliability of our method. A mapping of the AFM measurement with high resolution was also successfully obtained, which showed an advantage of the application of the AFM measurement in analysis of proteins on the tissue section.