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Scherrer S, Ramakrishna SN, Niggel V, Spencer ND, Isa L. Measuring Rolling Friction at the Nanoscale. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:6750-6760. [PMID: 38497776 PMCID: PMC10993404 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Colloidal probe microscopy, a technique whereby a microparticle is affixed at the end of an atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilever, plays a pivotal role in enabling the measurement of friction at the nanoscale and is of high relevance for applications and fundamental studies alike. However, in conventional experiments, the probe particle is immobilized onto the cantilever, thereby restricting its relative motion against a countersurface to pure sliding. Nonetheless, under many conditions of interest, such as during the processing of particle-based materials, particles are free to roll and slide past each other, calling for the development of techniques capable of measuring rolling friction alongside sliding friction. Here, we present a new methodology to measure lateral forces during rolling contacts based on the adaptation of colloidal probe microscopy. Using two-photon polymerization direct laser writing, we microfabricate holders that can capture microparticles, but allow for their free rotation. Once attached to an AFM cantilever, upon lateral scanning, the holders enable both sliding and rolling contacts between the captured particles and the substrate, depending on the interactions, while simultaneously giving access to normal and lateral force signals. Crucially, by producing particles with optically heterogeneous surfaces, we can accurately detect the presence of rotation during scanning. After introducing the workflow for the fabrication and use of the probes, we provide details on their calibration, investigate the effect of the materials used to fabricate them, and report data on rolling friction as a function of the surface roughness of the probe particles. We firmly believe that our methodology opens up new avenues for the characterization of rolling contacts at the nanoscale, aimed, for instance, at engineering particle surface properties and characterizing functional coatings in terms of their rolling friction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Scherrer
- Department of Materials, ETH
Zürich, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | | | - Vincent Niggel
- Department of Materials, ETH
Zürich, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | | | - Lucio Isa
- Department of Materials, ETH
Zürich, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
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Karg A, Kuznetsov V, Helfricht N, Lippitz M, Papastavrou G. Electrochemical grippers based on the tuning of surface forces for applications in micro- and nanorobotics. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7885. [PMID: 37193686 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33654-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Existing approaches to robotic manipulation often rely on external mechanical devices, such as hydraulic and pneumatic devices or grippers. Both types of devices can be adapted to microrobots only with difficulties and for nanorobots not all. Here, we present a fundamentally different approach that is based on tuning the acting surface forces themselves rather than applying external forces by grippers. Tuning of forces is achieved by the electrochemical control of an electrode's diffuse layer. Such electrochemical grippers can be integrated directly into an atomic force microscope, allowing for 'pick and place' procedures typically used in macroscopic robotics. Due to the low potentials involved, small autonomous robots could as well be equipped with these electrochemical grippers that will be particularly useful in soft robotics as well as nanorobotics. Moreover, these grippers have no moving parts and can be incorporated in new concepts for actuators. The concept can easily be scaled down and applied to a wide range of objects, such as colloids, proteins, and macromolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Karg
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - V Kuznetsov
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - N Helfricht
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - M Lippitz
- Experimental Physics III, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - G Papastavrou
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.
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Eskhan A, Johnson D. Microscale characterization of abiotic surfaces and prediction of their biofouling/anti-biofouling potential using the AFM colloidal probe technique. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 310:102796. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2022.102796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Bonet NF, Cava DG, Vélez M. Quartz crystal microbalance and atomic force microscopy to characterize mimetic systems based on supported lipids bilayer. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:935376. [PMID: 35992275 PMCID: PMC9382308 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.935376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) with dissipation and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) are two characterization techniques that allow describing processes taking place at solid-liquid interfaces. Both are label-free and, when used in combination, provide kinetic, thermodynamic and structural information at the nanometer scale of events taking place at surfaces. Here we describe the basic operation principles of both techniques, addressing a non-specialized audience, and provide some examples of their use for describing biological events taking place at supported lipid bilayers (SLBs). The aim is to illustrate current strengths and limitations of the techniques and to show their potential as biophysical characterization techniques.
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Kittel Y, Kuehne AJC, De Laporte L. Translating Therapeutic Microgels into Clinical Applications. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2101989. [PMID: 34826201 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202101989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Microgels are crosslinked, water-swollen networks with a 10 nm to 100 µm diameter and can be modified chemically or biologically to render them biocompatible for advanced clinical applications. Depending on their intended use, microgels require different mechanical and structural properties, which can be engineered on demand by altering the biochemical composition, crosslink density of the polymer network, and the fabrication method. Here, the fundamental aspects of microgel research and development, as well as their specific applications for theranostics and therapy in the clinic, are discussed. A detailed overview of microgel fabrication techniques with regards to their intended clinical application is presented, while focusing on how microgels can be employed as local drug delivery materials, scavengers, and contrast agents. Moreover, microgels can act as scaffolds for tissue engineering and regeneration application. Finally, an overview of microgels is given, which already made it into pre-clinical and clinical trials, while future challenges and chances are discussed. This review presents an instructive guideline for chemists, material scientists, and researchers in the biomedical field to introduce them to the fundamental physicochemical properties of microgels and guide them from fabrication methods via characterization techniques and functionalization of microgels toward specific applications in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonca Kittel
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstrasse 50 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Alexander J. C. Kuehne
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstrasse 50 52074 Aachen Germany
- Institute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Ulm University Albert‐Einstein‐Allee 11 89081 Ulm Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC) Polymeric Biomaterials RWTH University Aachen Worringerweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Laura De Laporte
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstrasse 50 52074 Aachen Germany
- Max Planck School‐Matter to Life (MtL) Jahnstraße 29 69120 Heidelberg Germany
- Advanced Materials for Biomedicine (AMB) Institute of Applied Medical Engineering (AME) Center for Biohybrid Medical Systems (CBMS) University Hospital RWTH 52074 Aachen Germany
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Nikolov AD, Wasan DT, Wu P. Solvation forces versus the nano-colloidal structural forces under the film confinement: Layer to in-layer structural transition in wetting solids. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2021.101539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Karg A, Rößler T, Mark A, Markus P, Lauster T, Helfricht N, Papastavrou G. A Versatile and Simple Approach to Electrochemical Colloidal Probes for Direct Force Measurements. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:13537-13547. [PMID: 34752120 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c01557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The colloidal probe technique, which is based on micrometer-sized colloidal particles that are attached to the end of a cantilever, revolutionized direct force measurements by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Its major advantages are a defined interaction geometry and a high force sensitivity. Here, we present a versatile and simple approach for preparing spherical electrodes in the micrometer range on an otherwise insulated AFM cantilever. Thereby, it becomes possible to combine direct force measurements and potentiostatic control of the probe for various types of electrode materials. Two examples for the use of such electrochemical colloidal probes (eCP) are presented: First, on soft, conductive films of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) the adhesion behavior was studied. The current through the contact area between the probe and film remained constant until the jump-out of contact, indicating a constant geometrical contact area. Second, the long-range forces due to diffuse layer overlap between an eCP and a glass surface have been determined as a function of the externally applied potential. The resulting interaction force profiles are in good agreement with those calculated based on charge regulation and solutions of the full Poisson-Boltzmann equation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Karg
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bavarian Center for Battery Technology, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Tamino Rößler
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Andreas Mark
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Paul Markus
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Tobias Lauster
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Nicolas Helfricht
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Georg Papastavrou
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bavarian Center for Battery Technology, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
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Hu H, Shi B, Breslin CM, Gignac L, Peng Y. A Sub-Micron Spherical Atomic Force Microscopic Tip for Surface Measurements. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:7861-7867. [PMID: 32513005 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c00923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We report a novel methodology for fabricating a sub-micron spherical atomic force microscope (AFM) tip controllably-a silicon sub-micron sphere atop microcantilevers, which is desired for precise nanoscale tribology measurements, biological studies, and colloid science. Silicon sub-micron spheres are fabricated through swelling of single-crystal silicon with proper high-energy helium ion dosing, a traditionally undesired phenomenon known in helium ion microscopy. Silicon sub-micron spheres with diameters from 100 nm to 1 μm are demonstrated, and the placement of silicon sub-micron spheres can be as accurate as 10 nm or even below. This AFM tip demonstrates robust measurements during friction tests on graphene/silicon oxide substrates for more than 10 000 cycles. This AFM tip overcomes a critical challenge of reducing the size of spherical AFM tips from the micrometer scale to the sub-micron scale and is promising in cross-scale mechanics studies, nanotribology, colloid science, and biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Hu
- ZJU-UIUC Institute, International Campus, Zhejiang University, Haining 314400, China
- School of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Bin Shi
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201600, China
| | | | - Lynne Gignac
- IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, United States
| | - Yitian Peng
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201600, China
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Ludwig M, von Klitzing R. Recent progress in measurements of oscillatory forces and liquid properties under confinement. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2020.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Mark A, Helfricht N, Rauh A, Xue J, Knödler P, Schumacher T, Karg M, Du B, Lippitz M, Papastavrou G. Electrokinetics in Micro-channeled Cantilevers: Extending the Toolbox for Reversible Colloidal Probes and AFM-Based Nanofluidics. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20294. [PMID: 31889103 PMCID: PMC6937245 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56716-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM) with nanofluidics, also referred to as FluidFM, has facilitated new applications in scanning ion conductance microscopy, direct force measurements, lithography, or controlled nanoparticle deposition. An essential element of this new type of AFMs is its cantilever, which bears an internal micro-channel with a defined aperture at the end. Here, we present a new approach for in-situ characterization of the internal micro-channels, which is non-destructive and based on electrochemical methods. It allows for probing the internal environment of a micro-channeled cantilever and the corresponding aperture, respectively. Acquiring the streaming current in the micro-channel allows to determine not only the state of the aperture over a wide range of ionic strengths but also the surface chemistry of the cantilever’s internal channel. The high practical applicability of this method is demonstrated by detecting the aspiration of polymeric, inorganic and hydrogel particles with diameters ranging from several µm down to 300 nm. By verifying in-situ the state of the aperture, i.e. open versus closed, electrophysiological or nano-deposition experiments will be significantly facilitated. Moreover, our approach is of high significance for direct force measurements by the FluidFM-technique and sub-micron colloidal probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Mark
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Nicolas Helfricht
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.,Bavarian Polymer Institute, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Astrid Rauh
- Physical Chemistry I, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40204, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jinqiao Xue
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Patrick Knödler
- Experimental Physics III, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schumacher
- Experimental Physics III, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Matthias Karg
- Physical Chemistry I, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40204, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Binyang Du
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Markus Lippitz
- Experimental Physics III, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Georg Papastavrou
- Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany. .,Bavarian Polymer Institute, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.
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