1
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Temperini ME, Polito R, Venanzi T, Baldassarre L, Hu H, Ciracì C, Pea M, Notargiacomo A, Mattioli F, Ortolani M, Giliberti V. An Infrared Nanospectroscopy Technique for the Study of Electric-Field-Induced Molecular Dynamics. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:9808-9815. [PMID: 39089683 PMCID: PMC11328210 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c01387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Static electric fields play a considerable role in a variety of molecular nanosystems as diverse as single-molecule junctions, molecules supporting electrostatic catalysis, and biological cell membranes incorporating proteins. External electric fields can be applied to nanoscale samples with a conductive atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe in contact mode, but typically, no structural information is retrieved. Here we combine photothermal expansion infrared (IR) nanospectroscopy with electrostatic AFM probes to measure nanometric volumes where the IR field enhancement and the static electric field overlap spatially. We leverage the vibrational Stark effect in the polymer poly(methyl methacrylate) for calibrating the local electric field strength. In the relevant case of membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin, we observe electric-field-induced changes of the protein backbone conformation and residue protonation state. The proposed technique also has the potential to measure DC currents and IR spectra simultaneously, insofar enabling the monitoring of the possible interplay between charge transport and other effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eleonora Temperini
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Roma, Italy
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, I-00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Raffaella Polito
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Tommaso Venanzi
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, I-00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Leonetta Baldassarre
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Huatian Hu
- Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Barsanti 14, I-73010 Arnesano, Italy
| | - Cristian Ciracì
- Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Barsanti 14, I-73010 Arnesano, Italy
| | - Marialilia Pea
- Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, I-00133 Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Notargiacomo
- Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, I-00133 Roma, Italy
| | - Francesco Mattioli
- Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, I-00133 Roma, Italy
| | - Michele Ortolani
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Roma, Italy
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, I-00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Valeria Giliberti
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, I-00161 Roma, Italy
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2
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Fukazawa H, Okada-Shudo Y. Photosynthetic Protein-Based Retinal Ganglion Cell Receptive Fields for Detecting Edges and Brightness Illusions. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:10983-10990. [PMID: 38048176 PMCID: PMC10723062 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriorhodopsin, isolated from a halophilic bacterium, is a photosynthetic protein with a structure and function similar to those of the visual pigment rhodopsin. A voltaic cell with bacteriorhodopsin sandwiched between two transparent electrodes exhibits a time-differential response akin to that observed in retinal ganglion cells. It is intriguing as a means to emulate excitation and inhibition in the neural response. Here, we present a neuromorphic device emulating the retinal ganglion cell receptive field fabricated by patterning bacteriorhodopsin onto two transparent electrodes and encapsulating them with an electrolyte solution. This protein-based artificial ganglion cell receptive field is characterized as a bandpass filter that simultaneously replicates excitatory and inhibitory responses within a single element, successfully detecting image edges and phenomena of brightness illusions. The device naturally emulates the highly interacting ganglion cell receptive fields by exploiting the inherent properties of proteins without the need for electronic components, bias power supply, or an external operating circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Fukazawa
- Department of Engineering Science, The University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Okada-Shudo
- Department of Engineering Science, The University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan
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3
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Leighton RE, Frontiera RR. Quantifying Bacteriorhodopsin Activity as a Function of its Local Environment with a Raman-Based Assay. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:8833-8841. [PMID: 37812499 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c04802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriorhodopsin (bR) is a transmembrane protein that functions as a light-driven proton pump in halophilic archaea. The bR photocycle has been well-characterized; however, these measurements almost exclusively measured purified bR, outside of its native membrane. To investigate what effect the cellular environment has on the bR photocycle, we have developed a Raman-based assay that can monitor the activity of the bR in a variety of conditions, including in its native membrane. The assay uses two continuous-wave lasers, one to initiate photochemistry and one to monitor bR activity. The excitation leads to the steady-state depletion of ground-state bR, which directly relates to the population of photocycle intermediate states. We have used this assay to monitor bR activity both in vitro and in vivo. Our in vitro measurements confirm that our assay is sensitive to bulk environmental changes reported in the literature. Our in vivo measurements show a decrease in bR activity with increasing extracellular pH for bR in its native membrane. The difference in activity with increasing pH indicates that the native membrane environment affects the function of bR. This assay opens the door to future measurements into understanding how the local environment of this transmembrane protein affects function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan E Leighton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Renee R Frontiera
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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4
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V. D. dos Santos AC, Hondl N, Ramos-Garcia V, Kuligowski J, Lendl B, Ramer G. AFM-IR for Nanoscale Chemical Characterization in Life Sciences: Recent Developments and Future Directions. ACS MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AU 2023; 3:301-314. [PMID: 37868358 PMCID: PMC10588935 DOI: 10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.3c00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Despite the ubiquitous absorption of mid-infrared (IR) radiation by virtually all molecules that belong to the major biomolecules groups (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids), the application of conventional IR microscopy to the life sciences remained somewhat limited, due to the restrictions on spatial resolution imposed by the diffraction limit (in the order of several micrometers). This issue is addressed by AFM-IR, a scanning probe-based technique that allows for chemical analysis at the nanoscale with resolutions down to 10 nm and thus has the potential to contribute to the investigation of nano and microscale biological processes. In this perspective, in addition to a concise description of the working principles and operating modes of AFM-IR, we present and evaluate the latest key applications of AFM-IR to the life sciences, summarizing what the technique has to offer to this field. Furthermore, we discuss the most relevant current limitations and point out potential future developments and areas for further application for fruitful interdisciplinary collaboration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikolaus Hondl
- Institute
of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Victoria Ramos-Garcia
- Health
Research Institute La Fe, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Julia Kuligowski
- Health
Research Institute La Fe, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Bernhard Lendl
- Institute
of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Ramer
- Institute
of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria
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5
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Temperini ME, Polito R, Intze A, Gillibert R, Berkmann F, Baldassarre L, Giliberti V, Ortolani M. A mid-infrared laser microscope for the time-resolved study of light-induced protein conformational changes. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2023; 94:064102. [PMID: 37862502 DOI: 10.1063/5.0136676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a confocal laser microscope operating in the mid-infrared range for the study of light-sensitive proteins, such as rhodopsins. The microscope features a co-aligned infrared and visible illumination path for the selective excitation and probing of proteins located in the IR focus only. An external-cavity tunable quantum cascade laser provides a wavelength tuning range (5.80-6.35 µm or 1570-1724 cm-1) suitable for studying protein conformational changes as a function of time delay after visible light excitation with a pulsed LED. Using cryogen-free detectors, the relative changes in the infrared absorption of rhodopsin thin films around 10-4 have been observed with a time resolution down to 30 ms. The measured full-width at half maximum of the Airy disk at λ = 6.08 µm in transmission mode with a confocal arrangement of apertures is 6.6 µm or 1.1λ. Dark-adapted sample replacement at the beginning of each photocycle is then enabled by exchanging the illuminated thin-film location with the microscope mapping stage synchronized to data acquisition and LED excitation and by averaging hundreds of time traces acquired in different nearby locations within a homogeneous film area. We demonstrate that this instrument provides crucial advantages for time-resolved IR studies of rhodopsin thin films with a slow photocycle. Time-resolved studies of inhomogeneous samples may also be possible with the presented instrument.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eleonora Temperini
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, Rome 00185, Italy
- Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science CL2NS, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Raffaella Polito
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Antonia Intze
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, Rome 00185, Italy
- Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science CL2NS, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Raymond Gillibert
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Fritz Berkmann
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Leonetta Baldassarre
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Valeria Giliberti
- Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science CL2NS, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Michele Ortolani
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, Rome 00185, Italy
- Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science CL2NS, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome 00161, Italy
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6
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Wagner M, Seifert A, Liz-Marzán LM. Towards multi-molecular surface-enhanced infrared absorption using metal plasmonics. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2022; 7:1259-1278. [PMID: 36047407 DOI: 10.1039/d2nh00276k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) leads to a largely improved detection of polar molecules, compared to standard infrared absorption. The enhancement principle is based on localized surface plasmon resonances of the substrate, which match the frequency of molecular vibrations in the analyte of interest. Therefore, in practical terms, the SEIRA sensor needs to be tailored to each specific analyte. We review SEIRA sensors based on metal plasmonics for the detection of biomolecules such as DNA, proteins, and lipids. We further focus this review on chemical SEIRA sensors, with potential applications in quality control, as well as on the improvement in sensor geometry that led to the development of multiresonant SEIRA substrates as sensors for multiple analytes. Finally, we give an introduction into the integration of SEIRA sensors with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marita Wagner
- CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramón 194, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
- CIC nanoGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Andreas Seifert
- CIC nanoGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 43009 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Luis M Liz-Marzán
- CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramón 194, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 43009 Bilbao, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
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7
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Schwartz JJ, Pavlidis G, Centrone A. Understanding Cantilever Transduction Efficiency and Spatial Resolution in Nanoscale Infrared Microscopy. Anal Chem 2022; 94:13126-13135. [PMID: 36099442 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Photothermal induced resonance (PTIR), also known as AFM-IR, enables nanoscale infrared (IR) imaging and spectroscopy by using the tip of an atomic force microscope to transduce the local photothermal expansion and contraction of a sample. The signal transduction efficiency and spatial resolution of PTIR depend on a multitude of sample, cantilever, and illumination source parameters in ways that are not yet well understood. Here, we elucidate and separate the effects of laser pulse length, pulse shape, sample thermalization time (τ), interfacial thermal conductance, and cantilever detection frequency by devising analytical and numerical models that link a sample's photothermal excitations to the cantilever dynamics over a broad bandwidth (10 MHz). The models indicate that shorter laser pulses excite probe oscillations over broader bandwidths and should be preferred for measuring samples with shorter thermalization times. Furthermore, we show that the spatial resolution critically depends on the interfacial thermal conductance between dissimilar materials and improves monotonically, but not linearly, with increasing cantilever detection frequencies. The resolution can be enhanced for samples that do not fully thermalize between pulses (i.e., laser repetition rates ≳ 1/3τ) as the probed depth becomes smaller than the film thickness. We believe that the insights presented here will accelerate the adoption and impact of PTIR analyses across a wide range of applications by informing experimental designs and measurement strategies as well as by guiding future technical advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey J Schwartz
- Laboratory for Physical Sciences, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States.,Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Georges Pavlidis
- Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Andrea Centrone
- Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
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8
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Schwartz JJ, Jakob DS, Centrone A. A guide to nanoscale IR spectroscopy: resonance enhanced transduction in contact and tapping mode AFM-IR. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:5248-5267. [PMID: 35616225 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00095d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is a broadly applicable, composition sensitive analytical technique. By leveraging the high spatial resolution of atomic force microscopy (AFM), the photothermal effect, and wavelength-tunable lasers, AFM-IR enables IR spectroscopy and imaging with nanoscale (< 10 nm) resolution. The transduction of a sample's photothermal expansion by an AFM probe tip ensures the proportionality between the AFM-IR signal and the sample absorption coefficient, producing images and spectra that are comparable to far-field IR databases and easily interpreted. This convergence of characteristics has spurred robust research efforts to extend AFM-IR capabilities and, in parallel, has enabled AFM-IR to impact numerous fields. In this tutorial review, we present the latest technical breakthroughs in AFM-IR spectroscopy and imaging and discuss its working principles, distinctive characteristics, and best practices for different AFM-IR measurement paradigms. Central to this review, appealing to both expert practitioners and novices alike, is the meticulous understanding of AFM-IR signal transduction, which is essential to take full advantage of AFM-IR capabilities. Here, we critically compile key information and discuss instructive experiments detailing AFM-IR signal transduction and provide guidelines linking experimental parameters to the measurement sensitivity, lateral resolution, and probed depth. Additionally, we provide in-depth tutorials on the most employed AFM-IR variants (resonance-enhanced and tapping mode AFM-IR), discussing technical details and representative applications. Finally, we briefly review recently developed AFM-IR modalities (peak force tapping IR and surface sensitivity mode) and provide insights on the next exciting opportunities and prospects for this fast-growing and evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey J Schwartz
- Laboratory for Physical Sciences, College Park, MD 20740, USA.,Nanoscale Device Characterization Division, Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA.
| | - Devon S Jakob
- Nanoscale Device Characterization Division, Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA. .,Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, Georgetown University, 3700 O St., NW Washington D.C., 20057, USA
| | - Andrea Centrone
- Nanoscale Device Characterization Division, Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA.
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9
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Zhang S, Wang L, Wu L, Li Z, Yang B, Hou Y, Lei L, Cheng S, He Q. Deciphering Single-Bacterium Adhesion Behavior Modulated by Extracellular Electron Transfer. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:5105-5115. [PMID: 34086465 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c01062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
For bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, a thorough understanding of the mechanism and effective modulating is lacking due to the complex extracellular electron transfer (EET) at bacteria-surface interfaces. Here, we explore the adhesion behavior of a model electroactive bacteria under various metabolic conditions by an integrated electrochemical single-cell force microscopy system. A nonlinear model between bacterial adhesion force and electric field intensity is established, which provides a theoretical foundation for precise tuning of bacterial adhesion strength by the surface potential and the direction and flux of electron flow. In particular, based on quantitative analyses with equivalent charge distribution modeling and wormlike chain numerical simulations, it is demonstrated that the chain conformation and unfolding events of outer membrane appendages are dominantly impacted by the dynamic bacterial EET processes. This reveals how the anisotropy of bacterial conductive structure can translate into the desired adhesion behavior in different scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuomeng Zhang
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Engineering Manufacture Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
| | - Lei Wang
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
| | - Liang Wu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhongjian Li
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
- Institute of Zhejiang University, Quzhou, Quzhou 32400, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Bin Yang
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
- Institute of Zhejiang University, Quzhou, Quzhou 32400, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Yang Hou
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
- Institute of Zhejiang University, Quzhou, Quzhou 32400, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Lecheng Lei
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
- Institute of Zhejiang University, Quzhou, Quzhou 32400, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Shaoan Cheng
- College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
| | - Qinggang He
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Engineering Manufacture Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
- Ningbo Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, China
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10
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Schwartz JJ, Le ST, Krylyuk S, Richter CA, Davydov AV, Centrone A. Substrate-mediated hyperbolic phonon polaritons in MoO 3. NANOPHOTONICS 2021; 10:10.1515/nanoph-2020-0640. [PMID: 36451975 PMCID: PMC9706547 DOI: 10.1515/nanoph-2020-0640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Hyperbolic phonon polaritons (HPhPs) are hybrid excitations of light and coherent lattice vibrations that exist in strongly optically anisotropic media, including two-dimensional materials (e.g., MoO3). These polaritons propagate through the material's volume with long lifetimes, enabling novel mid-infrared nanophotonic applications by compressing light to sub-diffractional dimensions. Here, the dispersion relations and HPhP lifetimes (up to ≈12 ps) in single-crystalline α-MoO3 are determined by Fourier analysis of real-space, nanoscale-resolution polariton images obtained with the photothermal induced resonance (PTIR) technique. Measurements of MoO3 crystals deposited on periodic gratings show longer HPhPs propagation lengths and lifetimes (≈2×), and lower optical compressions, in suspended regions compared with regions in direct contact with the substrate. Additionally, PTIR data reveal MoO3 subsurface defects, which have a negligible effect on HPhP propagation, as well as polymeric contaminants localized under parts of the MoO3 crystals, which are derived from sample preparation. This work highlights the ability to engineer substrate-defined nanophotonic structures from layered anisotropic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey J. Schwartz
- Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
- Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Son T. Le
- Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
- Theiss Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sergiy Krylyuk
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Curt A. Richter
- Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Albert V. Davydov
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
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11
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Infrared Nanospectroscopy of Individual Extracellular Microvesicles. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26040887. [PMID: 33567597 PMCID: PMC7915346 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26040887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles are membrane-delimited structures, involved in several inter-cellular communication processes, both physiological and pathological, since they deliver complex biological cargo. Extracellular vesicles have been identified as possible biomarkers of several pathological diseases; thus, their characterization is fundamental in order to gain a deep understanding of their function and of the related processes. Traditional approaches for the characterization of the molecular content of the vesicles require a large quantity of sample, thereby providing an average molecular profile, while their heterogeneity is typically probed by non-optical microscopies that, however, lack the chemical sensitivity to provide information of the molecular cargo. Here, we perform a study of individual microvesicles, a subclass of extracellular vesicles generated by the outward budding of the plasma membrane, released by two cultures of glial cells under different stimuli, by applying a state-of-the-art infrared nanospectroscopy technique based on the coupling of an atomic force microscope and a pulsed laser, which combines the label-free chemical sensitivity of infrared spectroscopy with the nanometric resolution of atomic force microscopy. By correlating topographic, mechanical and spectroscopic information of individual microvesicles, we identified two main populations in both families of vesicles released by the two cell cultures. Subtle differences in terms of nucleic acid content among the two families of vesicles have been found by performing a fitting procedure of the main nucleic acid vibrational peaks in the 1000–1250 cm−1 frequency range.
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12
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Temperini ME, Polito R, Intze A, Schade U, Puskar L, Ritter E, Baldassarre L, Ortolani M, Giliberti V. Infrared nanospectroscopy study of the light-induced conformational changes of Channelrhodopsin. EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/202125513001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The channelrhodopsin-ChR2 is a light-sensitive transmembrane protein that acts as a selective ion channel between the intra- and the extra-cellular environments. In the last decade, ChR2 has proven to be essential for optogenetics, because, if expressed in mammalian neural cells, it enables the control of neuronal activity in response to visible light. Mid-infrared difference spectroscopy can probe the functional conformational changes of light-sensitive proteins, however intrinsic limitations of standard IR spectroscopy in terms of diffraction, and therefore number of probed proteins, require that the mid-IR experiments be performed on huge numbers of lipid membrane patches with overexpressed proteins. In this work, we apply for the first time IR difference nanospectroscopy, based on the use of mid-IR lasers and an atomic force microscope (AFM), to single membrane patches containing ChR2, obtaining relevant spectroscopy results for optogenetic applications and, more generally, for future experimental studies of light-sensitive proteins at the nanoscale.
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13
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Beaussart A, Feuillie C, El-Kirat-Chatel S. The microbial adhesive arsenal deciphered by atomic force microscopy. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:23885-23896. [PMID: 33289756 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr07492f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microbes employ a variety of strategies to adhere to abiotic and biotic surfaces, as well as host cells. In addition to their surface physicochemical properties (e.g. charge, hydrophobic balance), microbes produce appendages (e.g. pili, fimbriae, flagella) and express adhesion proteins embedded in the cell wall or cell membrane, with adhesive domains targeting specific ligands or chemical properties. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is perfectly suited to deciphering the adhesive properties of microbial cells. Notably, AFM imaging has revealed the cell wall topographical organization of live cells at unprecedented resolution, and AFM has a dual capability to probe adhesion at the single-cell and single-molecule levels. AFM is thus a powerful tool for unravelling the molecular mechanisms of microbial adhesion at scales ranging from individual molecular interactions to the behaviours of entire cells. In this review, we cover some of the major breakthroughs facilitated by AFM in deciphering the microbial adhesive arsenal, including the exciting development of anti-adhesive strategies.
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March K, Venkatraman K, Truong CD, Williams D, Chiu PL, Rez P. Protein secondary structure signatures from energy loss spectra recorded in the electron microscope. J Microsc 2020; 282:215-223. [PMID: 33305823 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.12995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Infrared spectroscopy is a powerful technique for characterising protein structure. It is now possible to record energy losses corresponding to the infrared region in the electron microscope and to avoid damage by positioning the probe in the region adjacent to the structure being studied. Spectra from bacteriorhodopsin, a protein that is predominately a α helix, and OmpF porin, a protein that is mainly β sheet show significant differences over a spectral range from ∼0.1 to 0.25 eV (∼1000 to 1800 cm-1 ). Although the energy resolution equivalent to 60 cm-1 is inferior to Fourier Transform InfraRed Spectroscopy (FTIR) the spectra are very sensitive to molecular orientation. Polar bonds aligned parallel to the specimen grid make particularly strong contributions to the energy loss spectra. Ultra-high-resolution energy loss spectroscopy in the electron microscope can potentially add useful information to imaging and diffraction for determining the secondary structure misfolding believed to be responsible for dementia diseases such as Alzheimer's.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia March
- Eyring Materials Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.,Sorbonne Université, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR CNRS 7590, Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, Paris, France
| | - Kartik Venkatraman
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Chloe Du Truong
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.,School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Dewight Williams
- Eyring Materials Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Po-Lin Chiu
- Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.,School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Peter Rez
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
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Müller DJ, Dumitru AC, Lo Giudice C, Gaub HE, Hinterdorfer P, Hummer G, De Yoreo JJ, Dufrêne YF, Alsteens D. Atomic Force Microscopy-Based Force Spectroscopy and Multiparametric Imaging of Biomolecular and Cellular Systems. Chem Rev 2020; 121:11701-11725. [PMID: 33166471 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
During the last three decades, a series of key technological improvements turned atomic force microscopy (AFM) into a nanoscopic laboratory to directly observe and chemically characterize molecular and cell biological systems under physiological conditions. Here, we review key technological improvements that have established AFM as an analytical tool to observe and quantify native biological systems from the micro- to the nanoscale. Native biological systems include living tissues, cells, and cellular components such as single or complexed proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, or sugars. We showcase the procedures to customize nanoscopic chemical laboratories by functionalizing AFM tips and outline the advantages and limitations in applying different AFM modes to chemically image, sense, and manipulate biosystems at (sub)nanometer spatial and millisecond temporal resolution. We further discuss theoretical approaches to extract the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of specific biomolecular interactions detected by AFM for single bonds and extend the discussion to multiple bonds. Finally, we highlight the potential of combining AFM with optical microscopy and spectroscopy to address the full complexity of biological systems and to tackle fundamental challenges in life sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Müller
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Mattenstrasse 28, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andra C Dumitru
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Cristina Lo Giudice
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Hermann E Gaub
- Applied Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 München, Germany
| | - Peter Hinterdorfer
- Institute of Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University of Linz, Gruberstrasse 40, 4020 Linz, Austria
| | - Gerhard Hummer
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics and Department of Physics, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - James J De Yoreo
- Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Yves F Dufrêne
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - David Alsteens
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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Sustainability and Chaos in the Abiotic Polymerization of 3′,5′ Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate: The Role of Aggregation. CHEMSYSTEMSCHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/syst.202000011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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17
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Abstract
Photosynthetic membranes are typically densely packed with proteins, and this is crucial for their function in efficient trapping of light energy. Despite being crowded with protein, the membranes are fluid systems in which proteins and smaller molecules can diffuse. Fluidity is also crucial for photosynthetic function, as it is essential for biogenesis, electron transport, and protein redistribution for functional regulation. All photosynthetic membranes seem to maintain a delicate balance between crowding, order, and fluidity. How does this work in phototrophic bacteria? In this review, we focus on two types of intensively studied bacterial photosynthetic membranes: the chromatophore membranes of purple bacteria and the thylakoid membranes of cyanobacteria. Both systems are distinct from the plasma membrane, and both have a distinctive protein composition that reflects their specialized roles. Chromatophores are formed from plasma membrane invaginations, while thylakoid membranes appear to be an independent intracellular membrane system. We discuss the techniques that can be applied to study the organization and dynamics of these membrane systems, including electron microscopy techniques, atomic force microscopy, and many variants of fluorescence microscopy. We go on to discuss the insights that havebeen acquired from these techniques, and the role of membrane dynamics in the physiology of photosynthetic membranes. Membrane dynamics on multiple timescales are crucial for membrane function, from electron transport on timescales of microseconds to milliseconds to regulation and biogenesis on timescales of minutes to hours. We emphasize the open questions that remain in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conrad W. Mullineaux
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Lu-Ning Liu
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
- College of Marine Life Sciences, and Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
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Gallacher K, Millar RW, Paul DJ, Frigerio J, Ballabio A, Isella G, Rusconi F, Biagioni P, Giliberti V, Sorgi A, Baldassarre L, Ortolani M. Characterization of integrated waveguides by atomic-force-microscopy-assisted mid-infrared imaging and spectroscopy. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:22186-22199. [PMID: 32752485 DOI: 10.1364/oe.393748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A novel spectroscopy technique to enable the rapid characterization of discrete mid-infrared integrated photonic waveguides is demonstrated. The technique utilizes lithography patterned polymer blocks that absorb light strongly within the molecular fingerprint region. These act as integrated waveguide detectors when combined with an atomic force microscope that measures the photothermal expansion when infrared light is guided to the block. As a proof of concept, the technique is used to experimentally characterize propagation loss and grating coupler response of Ge-on-Si waveguides at wavelengths from 6 to 10 µm. In addition, when the microscope is operated in scanning mode at fixed wavelength, the guided mode exiting the output facet is imaged with a lateral resolution better than 500 nm i.e. below the diffraction limit. The characterization technique can be applied to any mid-infrared waveguide platform and can provide non-destructive in-situ testing of discrete waveguide components.
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Kurouski D, Dazzi A, Zenobi R, Centrone A. Infrared and Raman chemical imaging and spectroscopy at the nanoscale. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:3315-3347. [PMID: 32424384 PMCID: PMC7675782 DOI: 10.1039/c8cs00916c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The advent of nanotechnology, and the need to understand the chemical composition at the nanoscale, has stimulated the convergence of IR and Raman spectroscopy with scanning probe methods, resulting in new nanospectroscopy paradigms. Here we review two such methods, namely photothermal induced resonance (PTIR), also known as AFM-IR and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS). AFM-IR and TERS fundamentals will be reviewed in detail together with their recent crucial advances. The most recent applications, now spanning across materials science, nanotechnology, biology, medicine, geology, optics, catalysis, art conservation and other fields are also discussed. Even though AFM-IR and TERS have developed independently and have initially targeted different applications, rapid innovation in the last 5 years has pushed the performance of these, in principle spectroscopically complimentary, techniques well beyond initial expectations, thus opening new opportunities for their convergence. Therefore, subtle differences and complementarity will be highlighted together with emerging trends and opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Kurouski
- Department Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, 2128 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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Abstract
Infrared difference spectroscopy probes vibrational changes of proteins upon their perturbation. Compared with other spectroscopic methods, it stands out by its sensitivity to the protonation state, H-bonding, and the conformation of different groups in proteins, including the peptide backbone, amino acid side chains, internal water molecules, or cofactors. In particular, the detection of protonation and H-bonding changes in a time-resolved manner, not easily obtained by other techniques, is one of the most successful applications of IR difference spectroscopy. The present review deals with the use of perturbations designed to specifically change the protein between two (or more) functionally relevant states, a strategy often referred to as reaction-induced IR difference spectroscopy. In the first half of this contribution, I review the technique of reaction-induced IR difference spectroscopy of proteins, with special emphasis given to the preparation of suitable samples and their characterization, strategies for the perturbation of proteins, and methodologies for time-resolved measurements (from nanoseconds to minutes). The second half of this contribution focuses on the spectral interpretation. It starts by reviewing how changes in H-bonding, medium polarity, and vibrational coupling affect vibrational frequencies, intensities, and bandwidths. It is followed by band assignments, a crucial aspect mostly performed with the help of isotopic labeling and site-directed mutagenesis, and complemented by integration and interpretation of the results in the context of the studied protein, an aspect increasingly supported by spectral calculations. Selected examples from the literature, predominately but not exclusively from retinal proteins, are used to illustrate the topics covered in this review.
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