1
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Yang M, Rao G, Li L, Qi L, Ma C, Zhang H, Gong J, Wei B, Zhang XE, Chen G, Cao S, Li F. Transformation of a Viral Capsid from Nanocages to Nanotubes and Then to Hydrogels: Redirected Self-Assembly and Effects on Immunogenicity. ACS NANO 2024; 18:13755-13767. [PMID: 38752610 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c01969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The ability to manipulate the self-assembly of proteins is essential to understanding the mechanisms of life and beneficial to fabricating advanced nanomaterials. Here, we report the transformation of the MS2 phage capsid from nanocages to nanotubes and then to nanotube hydrogels through simple point mutations guided by interfacial interaction redesign. We demonstrate that site 70, which lies in the flexible FG loop of the capsid protein (CP), is a "magic" site that can largely dictate the final morphology of assemblies. By varying the amino acid at site 70, with the aid of a cysteine-to-alanine mutation at site 46, we achieved the assembly of double-helical or single-helical nanotubes in addition to nanocages. Furthermore, an additional cysteine substitution on the surface of nanotubes mediated their cross-linking to form hydrogels with reducing agent responsiveness. The hierarchical self-assembly system allowed for the investigation of morphology-related immunogenicity of MS2 CPs, which revealed dramatic differences among nanocages, nanotubes, and nanotube hydrogels in terms of immune response types, antibody levels and T cell functions. This study provides insights into the assembly manipulation of protein nanomaterials and the customized design of nanovaccines and drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengsi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guibo Rao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Long Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Linlin Qi
- Institute of Geriatrics, Affiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai University (The Sixth People's Hospital of Nantong), School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Nantong 226011, China
| | - Chun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jun Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bin Wei
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Xian-En Zhang
- Faculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Guosong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Sheng Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Feng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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2
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Marchiori G, Bellucci D, Gambardella A, Petretta M, Berni M, Boi M, Grigolo B, Giavaresi G, Baldini N, Cannillo V, Cavallo C. A Multidisciplinary Evaluation of Three-Dimensional Polycaprolactone Bioactive Glass Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering Purposes. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:2413. [PMID: 38793481 PMCID: PMC11122918 DOI: 10.3390/ma17102413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
In the development of bone graft substitutes, a fundamental step is the use of scaffolds with adequate composition and architecture capable of providing support in regenerative processes both on the tissue scale, where adequate resistance to mechanical stress is required, as well as at the cellular level where compliant chemical-physical and mechanical properties can promote cellular activity. In this study, based on a previous optimization study of this group, the potential of a three-dimensional construct based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and a novel biocompatible Mg- and Sr-containing glass named BGMS10 was explored. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed the inclusion of BGMS10 in the scaffold structure. Mesenchymal stem cells cultured on both PCL and PCL-BGMS10 showed similar tendencies in terms of osteogenic differentiation; however, no significant differences were found between the two scaffold types. This circumstance can be explained via X-ray microtomography and atomic force microscopy analyses, which correlated the spatial distribution of the BGMS10 within the bulk with the elastic properties and topography at the cell scale. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to understand the relationship between design parameters, material properties, and cellular response in polymer composites, which is crucial for the development and design of scaffolds for bone regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregorio Marchiori
- Scienze e Tecnologie Chirurgiche, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (G.M.); (G.G.)
| | - Devis Bellucci
- Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (D.B.); (V.C.)
| | - Alessandro Gambardella
- Scienze e Tecnologie Chirurgiche, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (G.M.); (G.G.)
| | | | - Matteo Berni
- Laboratorio di Tecnologia Medica, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Marco Boi
- Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche e Nanobiotecnologie, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (M.B.); (N.B.)
| | - Brunella Grigolo
- Laboratorio RAMSES, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (B.G.); (C.C.)
| | - Gianluca Giavaresi
- Scienze e Tecnologie Chirurgiche, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (G.M.); (G.G.)
| | - Nicola Baldini
- Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche e Nanobiotecnologie, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (M.B.); (N.B.)
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Valeria Cannillo
- Department of Engineering “Enzo Ferrari”, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (D.B.); (V.C.)
| | - Carola Cavallo
- Laboratorio RAMSES, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (B.G.); (C.C.)
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3
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Bontempi M, Marchiori G, Petretta M, Capozza R, Grigolo B, Giavaresi G, Gambardella A. Nanomechanical Mapping of Three Dimensionally Printed Poly-ε-Caprolactone Single Microfibers at the Cell Scale for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:617. [PMID: 38132556 PMCID: PMC10742115 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8080617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) has been widely used in additive manufacturing for the construction of scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. However, its use is limited by its lack of bioactivity and inability to induce cell adhesion, hence limiting bone tissue regeneration. Biomimicry is strongly influenced by the dynamics of cell-substrate interaction. Thus, characterizing scaffolds at the cell scale could help to better understand the relationship between surface mechanics and biological response. We conducted atomic force microscopy-based nanoindentation on 3D-printed PCL fibers of ~300 µm thickness and mapped the near-surface Young's modulus at loading forces below 50 nN. In this non-disruptive regime, force mapping did not show clear patterns in the spatial distribution of moduli or a relationship with the topographic asperities within a given region. Remarkably, we found that the average modulus increased linearly with the logarithm of the strain rate. Finally, a dependence of the moduli on the history of nanoindentation was demonstrated on locations of repeated nanoindentations, likely due to creep phenomena capable of hindering viscoelasticity. Our findings can contribute to the rational design of scaffolds for bone regeneration that are capable of inducing cell adhesion and proliferation. The methodologies described are potentially applicable to various tissue-engineered biopolymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bontempi
- Scienze e Tecnologie Chirurgiche, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (M.B.); (G.M.); (G.G.)
| | - Gregorio Marchiori
- Scienze e Tecnologie Chirurgiche, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (M.B.); (G.M.); (G.G.)
| | - Mauro Petretta
- REGENHU SA, Z.I Du Vivier 22, CH-1690 Villaz-St-Pierre, Switzerland;
| | - Rosario Capozza
- School of Engineering, Institute for Bioengineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3DW, UK;
| | - Brunella Grigolo
- Laboratorio RAMSES, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Gianluca Giavaresi
- Scienze e Tecnologie Chirurgiche, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (M.B.); (G.M.); (G.G.)
| | - Alessandro Gambardella
- Scienze e Tecnologie Chirurgiche, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (M.B.); (G.M.); (G.G.)
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4
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Braunshtein O, Levavi L, Zlotnikov I, Bar-On B. Nanoscale dynamic mechanical analysis on interfaces of biological composites. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2023; 146:106091. [PMID: 37672957 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.106091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Biological composites incorporate structural arrays of rigid-elastic reinforcements made of minerals or crystalline biopolymers, which are connected by thin, compliant, and viscoelastic macromolecular matrix material. The near-interface regions of these biological composites grant them energy dissipation capabilities against dynamic mechanical loadings, which promote various biomechanical functions such as impact adsorption, fracture toughness, and mechanical signal filtering. Here, we employ theoretical modeling and finite-element simulations to analyze the mechanical response of the near-interface in biological composites to nanoscale dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). We identified the dominating load-bearing mechanisms of the near-interface region and employed these insights to introduce simple semi-empirical formulations for approaching the mechanical properties (storage and loss moduli) of the biological composite from the nanoscale DMA results. Our analysis paves the way for the nanomechanical characterization of biological composites in diverse natural materials systems, which can also be employed for bioinspired and biomedical configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ofer Braunshtein
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel; Nuclear Research Center-Negev, P.O. Box 9001, Beer-Sheva, 84190, Israel
| | - Liat Levavi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
| | - Igor Zlotnikov
- B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, 01307, Germany
| | - Benny Bar-On
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel.
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5
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Nguyen HK, Shundo A, Ito M, Pittenger B, Yamamoto S, Tanaka K, Nakajima K. Insights into Mechanical Dynamics of Nanoscale Interfaces in Epoxy Composites Using Nanorheology Atomic Force Microscopy. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:38029-38038. [PMID: 37499131 PMCID: PMC10416213 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c06123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Interfacial polymer layers with nanoscale size play critical roles in dissipating the strain energy around cracks and defects in structural nanocomposites, thereby enhancing the material's fracture toughness. However, understanding how the intrinsic mechanical dynamics of the interfacial layer determine the toughening and reinforcement mechanisms in various polymer nanocomposites remains a major challenge. Here, by means of a recently developed nanorheology atomic force microscopy method, also known as nanoscale dynamic mechanical analysis (nDMA), we report direct mapping of dynamic mechanical responses at the interface of a model epoxy nanocomposite under the transition from a glassy to a rubbery state. We demonstrate a significant deviation in the dynamic moduli of the interface from matrix behavior. Interestingly, the sign of the deviation is observed to be reversed when the polymer changes from a glassy to a rubbery state, which provides an excellent explanation for the difference in the modulus reinforcement between glassy and rubbery epoxy nanocomposites. More importantly, nDMA loss tangent images unambiguously show an enhanced viscoelastic response at the interface compared to the bulk matrix in the glassy state. This observation can therefore provide important insights into the nanoscale toughening mechanism that occurs in epoxy nanocomposites due to viscoelastic energy dissipation at the interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung K. Nguyen
- Department
of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical
Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
| | - Atsuomi Shundo
- Center
for Polymer Interface and Molecular Adhesion Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Makiko Ito
- Department
of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical
Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
| | - Bede Pittenger
- Bruker
Nano Surfaces, AFM Unit, Santa Barbara, California 93117, United States
| | - Satoru Yamamoto
- Center
for Polymer Interface and Molecular Adhesion Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Keiji Tanaka
- Center
for Polymer Interface and Molecular Adhesion Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Ken Nakajima
- Department
of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical
Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
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6
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Gisbert VG, Garcia R. Insights and guidelines to interpret forces and deformations at the nanoscale by using a tapping mode AFM simulator: dForce 2.0. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:5857-5868. [PMID: 37305960 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00334e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Amplitude modulation (tapping mode) AFM is the most versatile AFM mode for imaging surfaces at the nanoscale in air and liquid environments. However, it remains challenging to estimate the forces and deformations exerted by the tip. We introduce a new simulator environment to predict the values of the observables in tapping mode AFM experiments. The relevant feature of dForce 2.0 is the incorporation of contact mechanics models aimed to describe the properties of ultrathin samples. These models were essential to determine the forces applied on samples such as proteins, self-assembled monolayers, lipid bilayers, and few-layered materials. The simulator incorporates two types of long-range magnetic forces. The simulator is written in an open-source code (Python) and it can be run from a personal computer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor G Gisbert
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC c/Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ricardo Garcia
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC c/Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
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7
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Streltsov DR, Borisov KM, Kalinina AA, Muzafarov AM. Quantitative Elasticity Mapping of Submicron Silica Hollow Particles by PeakForce QNM AFM Mode. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:1916. [PMID: 37446432 DOI: 10.3390/nano13131916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Silica hollow spheres with a diameter of 100-300 nm and a shell thickness of 8±2 nm were synthesized using a self-templating amphiphilic polymeric precursor, i.e., poly(ethylene glycol)-substituted hyperbranched polyethoxysiloxane. Their elastic properties were addressed with a high-frequency AFM indentation method based on the PeakForce QNM (quantitative nanomechanical mapping) mode enabling simultaneous visualization of the surface morphology and high-resolution mapping of the mechanical properties. The factors affecting the accuracy of the mechanical measurements such as a local slope of the particle surface, deformation of the silica hollow particles by a solid substrate, shell thickness variation, and applied force range were analysed. The Young's modulus of the shell material was evaluated as E=26±7 GPa independent of the applied force in the elastic regime of deformations. Beyond the elastic regime, the buckling instability was observed revealing a non-linear force-deformation response with a hysteresis between the loading and unloading force-distance curves and irreversible deformation of the shell at high applied forces. Thus, it was demonstrated that PeakForce QNM mode can be used for quantitative measurements of the elastic properties of submicon-sized silica hollow particles with nano-size shell thickness, as well as for estimation of the buckling behaviour beyond the elastic regime of shell deformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry R Streltsov
- Enikolopov Institute of Synthetic Polymeric Materials of Russian Academy of Sciences, 117393 Moscow, Russia
| | - Kirill M Borisov
- Enikolopov Institute of Synthetic Polymeric Materials of Russian Academy of Sciences, 117393 Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksandra A Kalinina
- Enikolopov Institute of Synthetic Polymeric Materials of Russian Academy of Sciences, 117393 Moscow, Russia
| | - Aziz M Muzafarov
- Enikolopov Institute of Synthetic Polymeric Materials of Russian Academy of Sciences, 117393 Moscow, Russia
- A.N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds of Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
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8
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Tian R, Li K, Lin Y, Lu C, Duan X. Characterization Techniques of Polymer Aging: From Beginning to End. Chem Rev 2023; 123:3007-3088. [PMID: 36802560 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Polymers have been widely applied in various fields in the daily routines and the manufacturing. Despite the awareness of the aggressive and inevitable aging for the polymers, it still remains a challenge to choose an appropriate characterization strategy for evaluating the aging behaviors. The difficulties lie in the fact that the polymer features from the different aging stages require different characterization methods. In this review, we present an overview of the characterization strategies preferable for the initial, accelerated, and late stages during polymer aging. The optimum strategies have been discussed to characterize the generation of radicals, variation of functional groups, substantial chain scission, formation of low-molecular products, and deterioration in the polymers' macro-performances. In view of the advantages and the limitations of these characterization techniques, their utilization in a strategic approach is considered. In addition, we highlight the structure-property relationship for the aged polymers and provide available guidance for lifetime prediction. This review could allow the readers to be knowledgeable of the features for the polymers in the different aging stages and provide access to choose the optimum characterization techniques. We believe that this review will attract the communities dedicated to materials science and chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Kaitao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yanjun Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- School of Chemical Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Chao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Green Catalysis Center, College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xue Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
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9
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Rationalizing the interfacial layer in polymer nanocomposites: Correlation between enthalpy and dielectric relaxation. POLYMER 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2023.125765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
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10
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Quantification of interfacial structure at nanoscale and its relationship with viscoelastic glass transition of SiO2/elastomer nanocomposites. POLYMER 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2023.125798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
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11
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Bontempi M, Capozza R, Visani A, Fini M, Giavaresi G, Gambardella A. Near-Surface Nanomechanics of Medical-Grade PEEK Measured by Atomic Force Microscopy. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15030718. [PMID: 36772019 PMCID: PMC9920404 DOI: 10.3390/polym15030718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Detecting subtle changes of surface stiffness at spatial scales and forces relevant to biological processes is crucial for the characterization of biopolymer systems in view of chemical and/or physical surface modification aimed at improving bioactivity and/or mechanical strength. Here, a standard atomic force microscopy setup is operated in nanoindentation mode to quantitatively mapping the near-surface elasticity of semicrystalline polyether ether ketone (PEEK) at room temperature. Remarkably, two localized distributions of moduli at about 0.6 and 0.9 GPa are observed below the plastic threshold of the polymer, at indentation loads in the range of 120-450 nN. This finding is ascribed to the localization of the amorphous and crystalline phases on the free surface of the polymer, detected at an unprecedented level of detail. Our study provides insights to quantitatively characterize complex biopolymer systems on the nanoscale and to guide the optimal design of micro- and nanostructures for advanced biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bontempi
- Scienze e Tecnologie Chirurgiche, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Rosario Capozza
- School of Engineering, Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, The University of Edinburgh, Thomas Bayes Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JL, UK
| | - Andrea Visani
- Scienze e Tecnologie Chirurgiche, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Milena Fini
- Scientific Direction, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Gianluca Giavaresi
- Scienze e Tecnologie Chirurgiche, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gambardella
- Scienze e Tecnologie Chirurgiche, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-051-636-6513
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12
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Chen X, Zhu M, Tang Y, Xie H, Fan X. Methine initiated polypropylene-based disposable face masks aging validated by micromechanical properties loss of atomic force microscopy. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 441:129831. [PMID: 36084457 PMCID: PMC9398948 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The contagious coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic has led to an increasing number of disposable face masks (DFMs) abandoned in the environment, when they are exposed to the air condition, the broken of chemical bond induced aging is inevitably occurred which meantime would cause a drastic decrease of the mechanical flexibility. However, the understanding of between chemical bond change related to aging and its micromechanical loss is limited due to the lack of refined techniques. Herein, the atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique was firstly used to observe the aging process induced by methine of the polypropylene-based DFMs. By comparing the micromechanical properties loss, the influences of humidity and light density on the DFM aging were systematically studied in the early 72 h, and it revealed that the increasing scissions number of the easiest attacked methine (Ct-H) can gradually decrease the micromechanical properties of the polypropylene (PP)-based DFM. Furthermore, the results are also validated by the in- situ FTIR and XPS analysis. This work discloses that an aging process can be initially estimated with the micromechanical changes observed by AFM, which offers fundamental data to manage this important emerging plastic pollution during COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqin Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Mude Zhu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yi Tang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Huiyuan Xie
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiaoyun Fan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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13
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Chandrashekar A, Givois A, Belardinelli P, Penning CL, Aragón AM, Staufer U, Alijani F. Sensitivity of viscoelastic characterization in multi-harmonic atomic force microscopy. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:8748-8755. [PMID: 36349749 PMCID: PMC9709660 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00482h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying the nanomechanical properties of soft-matter using multi-frequency atomic force microscopy (AFM) is crucial for studying the performance of polymers, ultra-thin coatings, and biological systems. Such characterization processes often make use of cantilever's spectral components to discern nanomechanical properties within a multi-parameter optimization problem. This could inadvertently lead to an over-determined parameter estimation with no clear relation between the identified parameters and their influence on the experimental data. In this work, we explore the sensitivity of viscoelastic characterization in polymeric samples to the experimental observables of multi-frequency intermodulation AFM. By performing simulations and experiments we show that surface viscoelasticity has negligible effect on the experimental data and can lead to inconsistent and often non-physical identified parameters. Our analysis reveals that this lack of influence of the surface parameters relates to a vanishing gradient and non-convexity while minimizing the objective function. By removing the surface dependency from the model, we show that the characterization of bulk properties can be achieved with ease and without any ambiguity. Our work sheds light on the sensitivity issues that can be faced when optimizing for a large number of parameters and observables in AFM operation, and calls for the development of new viscoelastic models at the nanoscale and improved computational methodologies for nanoscale mapping of viscoelasticity using AFM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhilash Chandrashekar
- Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD, Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Arthur Givois
- Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD, Delft, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Casper L Penning
- Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD, Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Alejandro M Aragón
- Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD, Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Urs Staufer
- Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD, Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Farbod Alijani
- Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD, Delft, The Netherlands.
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14
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Sun R, Yang J, Patil S, Liu Y, Zuo X, Lee A, Yang W, Wang Y, Cheng S. Relaxation dynamics of deformed polymer nanocomposites as revealed by small-angle scattering and rheology. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:8867-8884. [PMID: 36377377 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00775d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The relaxation dynamics of polystyrene (PS)/silica nanocomposites after a large step deformation are studied by a combination of small-angle scattering techniques and rheology. Small-angle X-ray scattering measurements and rheology show clear signatures of nanoparticle aggregation that enhances the mechanical properties of the polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) in the linear viscoelastic regime and during the initial phase of stress relaxation along with accelerated relaxation dynamics. Small-angle neutron scattering experiments under the zero-average-contrast condition reveal, however, smaller structural anisotropy in the PNCs than that in the neat polymer matrix, as well as accelerated anisotropy relaxation. In addition, the degrees of anisotropy reduction and relaxation dynamics acceleration increase with increasing nanoparticle loading. These results are in sharp contrast to the prevailing viewpoint of enhanced molecular deformation as the main mechanism for the mechanical enhancement in PNCs. Furthermore, the observed acceleration of stress relaxation and reduction in structural anisotropy point to two types of nonlinear effects in the relaxation dynamics of PNCs at large deformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruikun Sun
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, P. R. China
| | - Shalin Patil
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | - Yun Liu
- Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
| | - Xiaobing Zuo
- X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, USA
| | - Andre Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
| | - Wei Yang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, P. R. China
| | - Yangyang Wang
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA.
| | - Shiwang Cheng
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
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15
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Chiodini S, Dinelli F, Martinez NF, Donati S, Albonetti C. Identification of ultra-thin molecular layers atop monolayer terraces in sub-monolayer organic films with scanning probe microscopy. Ultramicroscopy 2022; 240:113598. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2022.113598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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16
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Qi Y, Li N, Zhang K, Yang Y, Ren Z, You J, Hou Q, Shen C, Jin T, Peng Z, Xie K. Dynamic Liquid Metal Catalysts for Boosted Lithium Polysulfides Redox Reaction. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2204810. [PMID: 35953449 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202204810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Designing efficient electrocatalysts with high electroconductivity, strong chemisorption, and superior catalytical efficiency to realize rapid kinetics of the lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) conversion process is crucial for practical lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery applications. Unfortunately, most current electrocatalysts cannot maintain long-term stability due to the possible failure of catalytic sites. Herein, a novel dynamic electrocatalytic strategy with the liquid metal (i.e., gallium-tin, EGaSn) to facilitate LiPSs redox reaction is reported. The combined theoretical simulations and microstructure experiment analysis reveal that Sn atoms dynamically distributed in the liquid Ga matrix act as the main active catalytic center. Meanwhile, Ga provides a uniquely dynamic environment to maintain the long-term integrity of the catalytic system. With the participation of EGaSn, a tailor-made 2 Ah Li-S pouch cell with a specific energy density of 307.7 Wh kg-1 is realized. This work opens up new opportunities for liquid-phase binary alloys as electrocatalysts for high-specific-energy Li-S batteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqin Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Center for Nano Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University and Shaanxi Joint Laboratory of Graphene (NPU), Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Nan Li
- Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Center for Nano Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University and Shaanxi Joint Laboratory of Graphene (NPU), Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Yong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Center for Nano Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University and Shaanxi Joint Laboratory of Graphene (NPU), Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Zengying Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Center for Nano Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University and Shaanxi Joint Laboratory of Graphene (NPU), Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Jingyuan You
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Center for Nano Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University and Shaanxi Joint Laboratory of Graphene (NPU), Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Qian Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Center for Nano Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University and Shaanxi Joint Laboratory of Graphene (NPU), Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Chao Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Center for Nano Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University and Shaanxi Joint Laboratory of Graphene (NPU), Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Ting Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Center for Nano Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University and Shaanxi Joint Laboratory of Graphene (NPU), Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Zuling Peng
- CALB Technology Co., Ltd., No.1 Jiangdong Avenue, Jintan District, Changzhou, 213200, China
| | - Keyu Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Center for Nano Energy Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University and Shaanxi Joint Laboratory of Graphene (NPU), Xi'an, 710072, China
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17
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Zhao O, Collinson DW, Ohshita S, Naito M, Nakano N, Tortissier G, Nomura T, Dauskardt RH. Insights into the Mechanical Properties of Ultrathin Perfluoropolyether-Silane Coatings. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:6435-6442. [PMID: 35543410 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ultrathin perfluoropolyether-silane (PFPE-silane) films offer excellent functionality as antifingerprint coatings for display touchscreens due to their oleophobic, hydrophobic, and good adhesion properties. During smartphone use, PFPE-silane coatings undergo many abrasion cycles which limit the coating lifetime, so a better understanding of how to optimize the film structure for improved mechanical durability is desired. However, the hydrophobic and ultrathin (1-10 nm) nature of PFPE-silane films renders them very difficult to experimentally characterize. In this study, the cohesive fracture energy and elastic modulus, which are directly correlated with hardness and better wear resistance of 3.5 nm-thick PFPE-silane films were, respectively, measured by double cantilever beam testing and atomic force microscopy indentation. Both the cohesive fracture energy and modulus are shown to be highly dependent on the underlying film structure. Both values increase with optimal substrate conditions and a higher number of silane groups in the PFPE-silane precursor. The higher cohesive fracture energy and modulus values are suggested to be the result of the changes in the film chemistry and structure, leading to higher cross-linking density. Therefore, future work on optimizing PFPE-silane film wear resistance should focus on pathways to improve the cross-linking density. Subcritical fracture testing in humid environments reveals that humidity negatively affects the fracture properties of PFPE-silane films.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Zhao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2205, United States
| | - David W Collinson
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2205, United States
| | - Shinsuke Ohshita
- Daikin Industries Limited, 1-1, Nishihitotsuya, Settsu, Osaka 566-8585, Japan
| | - Masato Naito
- Daikin Industries Limited, 1-1, Nishihitotsuya, Settsu, Osaka 566-8585, Japan
| | - Nozomi Nakano
- Daikin Industries Limited, 1-1, Nishihitotsuya, Settsu, Osaka 566-8585, Japan
| | - Gregory Tortissier
- Daikin Industries Limited, 1-1, Nishihitotsuya, Settsu, Osaka 566-8585, Japan
| | - Takashi Nomura
- Daikin Industries Limited, 1-1, Nishihitotsuya, Settsu, Osaka 566-8585, Japan
| | - Reinhold H Dauskardt
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2205, United States
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18
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Nanomechanical Characterization of Bacterial Polyhydroxyalkanoates Using Atomic Force Microscopy. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12104994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Polyhydroxyalkanoates are a promising class of biopolymers that can allow the production of sustainable plastic materials. The mechanical properties of such materials are very important for possible industrial applications, but the amount of polymer required for common mechanical testing can be orders of magnitude more than what is possible to achieve with a lab-scale process. Nanoindentation with the Atomic Force Microscope allows an estimation of the Elastic Modulus that can be used as a preliminary measurement on PHA when only a limited amount of material is available. Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) copolymers were analyzed, with moduli ranging from 528 ± 62 MPa to 1623 ± 172 MPa, according to both the composition and the crystallization kinetics.
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19
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Nguyen HK, Nakajima K. Evidence of the Transition from a Flexible to Rigid Percolating Network in Polymer Nanocomposites. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c00208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hung K. Nguyen
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
| | - Ken Nakajima
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
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20
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Gisbert VG, Garcia R. Accurate Wide-Modulus-Range Nanomechanical Mapping of Ultrathin Interfaces with Bimodal Atomic Force Microscopy. ACS NANO 2021; 15:20574-20581. [PMID: 34851086 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c09178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The nanoscale determination of the mechanical properties of interfaces is of paramount relevance in materials science and cell biology. Bimodal atomic force microscopy (AFM) is arguably the most advanced nanoscale method for mapping the elastic modulus of interfaces. Simulations, theory, and experiments have validated bimodal AFM measurements on thick samples (from micrometer to millimeter). However, the bottom-effect artifact, this is, the influence of the rigid support on the determination of the Young's modulus, questions its accuracy for ultrathin materials and interfaces (1-15 nm). Here we develop a bottom-effect correction method that yields the intrinsic Young's modulus value of a material independent of its thickness. Experiments and numerical simulations validate the accuracy of the method for a wide range of materials (1 MPa to 100 GPa). Otherwise, the Young's modulus of an ultrathin material might be overestimated by a 10-fold factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor G Gisbert
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Garcia
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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