Directed Self-assembly of Nanostructures to Develop AFM-Based Biomaterial-to-Electronic Interface

POSTER

Abstract

Very flexible and rugged Ag$_{2}$Ga nanoneedles of constant diameter (sub 100 nm diameter, 7-70 microns long) can be securely grown onto AFM tips at room temperature. These nanoneedles are electrically conductive and have stiffness well matched to viscoelastic properties of complex fluids and biological materials. This talk specifically presents the abilities of the needles to (1) make precise AFM measurements of surface tension, contact angle, evaporation rate, and shear viscosity of polymeric liquids, (2) measure complex viscoelastic properties of cell membranes and organelles of blood and endothelial cells, (3) capture and be surrounded by single live endothelial cells within a few seconds, (4) polymerize and detect the growth of protein nanofibers on the end of the nanoneedles and (5) Functionalize the end of the needles with protein nanofibers and use them for imaging the cell receptors.

Authors

  • Mehdi Yazdanpanah

    ElectroOptics Research Institute and Nanotechnology Center University of Louisville, electroOptics Research Institute and Nanotechnology Center University of Louisville, University of Louisville

  • Mahdi Hosseini

    electroOptics Research Institute and Nanotechnology Center University of Louisville, University of Louisville

  • Santosh Pabba

    electroOptics Research Institute and Nanotechnology Center University of Louisville, University of Louisville

  • Scott Berry

    University of Louisville

  • Vladimir Dobrokhotov

    ElectroOptics Research Institute and Nanotechnology Center University of Louisville, electroOptics Research Institute and Nanotechnology Center University of Louisville, University of Louisville

  • Abdelilah Safir

    University of Louisville

  • Robert Keynton

    electroOptics Research Institute and Nanotechnology Center University of Louisville, University of Louisville

  • Robert Cohn

    University of Louisville