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Bhattacharya G, McMichael S, Lionadi I, Biglarbeigi P, Finlay D, Fernandez-Ibanez P, Payam AF. Mass and Stiffness Deconvolution in Nanomechanical Resonators for Precise Mass Measurement and In Vivo Biosensing. ACS NANO 2024; 18:20181-20190. [PMID: 39072375 PMCID: PMC11308922 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c03391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Nanomechanical sensors, due to their small size and high sensitivity to the environment, hold significant promise for various sensing applications. These sensors enable rapid, highly sensitive, and selective detection of biological and biochemical entities as well as mass spectrometry by utilizing the frequency shift of nanomechanical resonators. Nanomechanical systems have been employed to measure the mass of cells and biomolecules and study the fundamentals of surface science such as phase transitions and diffusion. Here, we develop a methodology using both experimental measurements and numerical simulations to explore the characteristics of nanomechanical resonators when the detection entities are absorbed on the cantilever surface and quantify the mass, density, and Young's modulus of adsorbed entities. Moreover, based on this proposed concept, we present an experimental method for measuring the mass of molecules and living biological entities in their physiological environment. This approach could find applications in predicting the behavior of bionanoelectromechanical resonators functionalized with biological capture molecules, as well as in label-free, nonfunctionalized micro/nanoscale biosensing and mass spectrometry of living bioentities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gourav Bhattacharya
- Nanotechnology
and Integrated Bioengineering Centre, School of Engineering, Ulster University, Belfast BT15 1AP, U.K.
| | - Stuart McMichael
- Nanotechnology
and Integrated Bioengineering Centre, School of Engineering, Ulster University, Belfast BT15 1AP, U.K.
| | - Indrianita Lionadi
- Nanotechnology
and Integrated Bioengineering Centre, School of Engineering, Ulster University, Belfast BT15 1AP, U.K.
| | - Pardis Biglarbeigi
- Department
of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Whelan Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE England, U.K.
| | - Dewar Finlay
- Nanotechnology
and Integrated Bioengineering Centre, School of Engineering, Ulster University, Belfast BT15 1AP, U.K.
| | - Pilar Fernandez-Ibanez
- Nanotechnology
and Integrated Bioengineering Centre, School of Engineering, Ulster University, Belfast BT15 1AP, U.K.
| | - Amir Farokh Payam
- Nanotechnology
and Integrated Bioengineering Centre, School of Engineering, Ulster University, Belfast BT15 1AP, U.K.
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2
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Lou P, Bi Z, Shang G. Accurate detection of subsurface microcavity by bimodal atomic force microscopy. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 35:355704. [PMID: 38838645 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ad544e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Subsurface detection capability of bimodal atomic force microscopy (AFM) was investigated using the buried microcavity as a reference sample, prepared by partially covering a piece of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) flake with different thickness on a piece of a cleaned CD-R disk substrate. This capability can be manifested as the image contrast between the locations with and without the buried microcavities. The theoretical and experimental results demonstrated that the image contrast is significantly affected by the critical parameters, including the second eigenmode amplitude and frequency as well as local structural and mechanical properties of the sample itself. Specifically, improper parameter settings generally lead to incorrect identification of the buried microcavity due to the contrast reduction, contrast reversal and even disappearance. For accurate detection, the second eigenmode amplitude should be as small as possible on the premise of satisfying the signal-to-noise ratio and second eigenmode frequency should be close to the resonance frequency of the cantilever. In addition, the detectable depth is closely related to microcavity dimension (thickness and width) of the HOPG flake and local stiffness of the sample. These results would be helpful for further understanding of the detection mechanism of bimodal AFM and facilitating its application in nano-characterization of subsurface structures, such as the micro-/nano- channels to direct the flow of liquids in lab-on-a-chip devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengtao Lou
- School of Physics, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhuanfang Bi
- School of Physics, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangyi Shang
- School of Physics, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
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3
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Chiodini S, Borbone F, Oscurato SL, Garcia PD, Ambrosio A. Light-induced modulation of viscoelastic properties in azobenzene polymers. NANOPHOTONICS 2024; 13:229-238. [PMID: 38283896 PMCID: PMC10808048 DOI: 10.1515/nanoph-2023-0728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Photo-induced isomerization of azobenzene molecules drives mass migrations in azopolymer samples. The resulting macroscopic directional photo-deformation of the material morphology has found many applications in literature, although the fundamental mechanisms behind this mass transfer are still under debate. Hence, it is of paramount importance to find quantitative observables that could drive the community toward a better understanding of this phenomenon. In this regard, azopolymer mechanical properties have been intensively studied, but the lack of a nanoscale technique capable of quantitative viscoelastic measurements has delayed the progress in the field. Here, we use bimodal atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a powerful technique for nanomechanical characterizations of azopolymers. With this multifrequency AFM approach, we map the azopolymer local elasticity and viscosity, with high resolution, after irradiation. We find that, while in the (previously) illuminated region, a general photo-softening is measured; locally, the Young modulus and the viscosity depend upon the inner structuring of the illuminating light spot. We then propose a possible interpretation based on a light-induced expansion plus a local alignment of the polymer chains (directional hole-burning effect), which explains the experimental observations. The possibility to access, in a reliable and quantitative way, both Young modulus and viscosity could trigger new theoretical-numerical investigations on the azopolymer mass migration dynamics since, as we show, both parameters can be considered measurable. Furthermore, our results provide a route for engineering the nanomechanical properties of azopolymers, which could find interesting applications in cell mechanobiology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Chiodini
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Borbone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Cinthia Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, Via Cintia, 80126Naples, Italy
| | - Stefano L. Oscurato
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134, Milan, Italy
- Physics Department “E. Pancini”, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Cinthia Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo, Via Cintia, 80126Naples, Italy
| | - Pablo D. Garcia
- BYM-Ingema, Centro de Empresas del Caudal, Polígono Vega de Arriba, 33600, Mieres, Spain
| | - Antonio Ambrosio
- Center for Nano Science and Technology, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Rubattino 81, 20134, Milan, Italy
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4
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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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5
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Swierczewski M, Bürgi T. Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett Films of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:2135-2151. [PMID: 36739536 PMCID: PMC9933884 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Recently the focus of the Langmuir-Blodgett technique as a method of choice to transfer monolayers from the air/water interface onto solid substrates in a controllable fashion has been shifting toward purely hydrophobic gold and silver nanoparticles. The fundamental interactions between particles that become relevant in the absence of polar groups range from dispersive attractions from the metal cores and repulsions between ligand shells to weaker entropic factors. The layer evolution is explored, starting with interfacial self-assembly upon solution spreading and domain and circular island formation, which subsequently merge into a complete monolayer and finally form multilayers or macroscopic wrinkles. Moreover, structural properties such as the core:ligand size ratio are investigated in the context of dispersive forces, whereby the nanoparticles with small cores and long ligands tend not to aggregate sufficiently to produce continuous films, those with large cores and short ligands were found to aggregate irreversibly, and those in between the two extremes were concluded to be able to form highly organized crystalline films. Similarly, the characteristics of the spreading solution such as the concentration and the solvent type crucially influence the film crystallinity, with the deciding factor being the degree of affinity between the capping ligand and the solvent used for spreading. Finally, the most common strategies employed to enhance the mechanical stability of the metal nanoparticle films along with the recent attempts to functionalize the particles in attempts to improve their applicability in the industry are summarized and evaluated in relation to their future prospects. One of the objectives of this feature article is to elucidate the differences between hydrophobic metal nanoparticles and typical amphiphilic molecules that the majority of the literature in the field describes and to familiarize the reader with the knowledge required to design Langmuir-Blodgett nanoparticle systems as well as the strategies to improve existing ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Swierczewski
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, Geneva 4CH-1211, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Bürgi
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, Geneva 4CH-1211, Switzerland
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6
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Chen SWW, Teulon JM, Kaur H, Godon C, Pellequer JL. Nano-structural stiffness measure for soft biomaterials of heterogeneous elasticity. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2022; 8:75-82. [PMID: 36314544 DOI: 10.1039/d2nh00390b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Measuring the structural stiffness aims to reveal the impact of nanostructured components or various physiological circumstances on the elastic response of material to an external indentation. With a pyramidal tip at a nano-scale, we employed the atomic force microscopy (AFM) to indent the surfaces of two compositions of polyacrylamide gels with different softness and seedling roots of Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that the stiffness-depth curve derived from the measured force exhibits a heterogeneous character in elasticity. According to the tendency of stiffness-depth curve, we decomposed the responding force into depth-impact (FC), Hookean (FH) and tip-shape (FS) components, called trimechanic, where FS and its gradient should be offset at the surface or subsurfaces of the indented material. Thereby, trimechnic theory allows us to observe how the three restoring nanomechanics change with varied depth. Their strengths are represented by the respective spring constants (kC, kH, kS) of three parallel-connected spring (3PCS) analogs to differentiate restoring nanomechansims of indented materials. The effective Young's modulus Ê and the total stiffness kT (= kH + kS) globally unambiguously distinguish the softness between the two gel categories. Data fluctuations were observed in the elasticity parameters of individual samples, reflecting nanostructural variations in the gel matrix. Similar tendencies were found in the results from growing plant roots, though the data fluctuations are expectedly much more dramatic. The zone-wise representation of stiffness by the trimechanic-3PCS framework demonstrates a stiffness measure that reflects beneath nanostructures encountered by deepened depth. The trimechanic-3PCS framework can apply any mechanical model of power-law based force-depth relationship and is compatible with thin layer corrections. It provides a new paradigm for analyzing restoring nanomechanics of soft biomaterials in response to indenting forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Wen W Chen
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
- Rue Cyprien Jullin, Vinay, 38470, France
| | - Jean-Marie Teulon
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Harinderbir Kaur
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Christian Godon
- Aix Marseille University, CEA, CNRS, BIAM, 13108 Saint Paul-Lez-Durance, Cadarache, France
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Stan G, Ciobanu CV, King SW. Resolving the Subsurface Structure and Elastic Modulus of Layered Films via Contact Resonance Atomic Force Microscopy. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:55238-55248. [PMID: 36455132 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c17962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Since its discovery, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become widely used for surface characterization, evolving from a tool for probing surface topography to a versatile method for characterizing mechanical, electrical, chemical, magnetic, and electro-optical properties of surfaces at the nanoscale. Developments of several AFM-based techniques have enabled even subsurface imaging, which is routinely being carried out at the qualitative level of feature detection for localized subsurface inhomogeneities. We surmise, however, that a quantitative three-dimensional (3D) subsurface characterization can emerge from the AFM mechanical response of flat buried interfaces, and present here a methodology for determining the depth of a film and its mechanical properties. Using load-dependent contact resonance atomic force microscopy (CR-AFM) and accurate modeling of the contact between the AFM tip and a layered sample, we determine the relationship between the measured resonance frequency of the AFM probe and the contact stiffness. Our subsequent statistical analysis reveals an intrinsic and sample-specific interdependence between the depth and modulus sensitivities of CR-AFM. This interdependence prevents the simultaneous accurate determination of both depth and modulus from measurements on a single-layered sample. If the elastic moduli of the sample components are predetermined from separate investigations of bulk samples (or otherwise known), then this methodology accurately yields the location of the interface between the layers of the sample; as such, it can serve as a nondestructive and robust technique for probing layer thickness, subsurface features, and elastic properties of materials used in semiconductor electronics, additive manufacturing, or biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gheorghe Stan
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland20899, United States
| | - Cristian V Ciobanu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Program, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado80401, United States
| | - Sean W King
- Supplier Technology and Industry Development, Intel Corporation, Hillsboro, Oregon97124, United States
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8
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Benaglia S, Drakopoulou S, Biscarini F, Garcia R. In operando nanomechanical mapping of PEDOT:PSS thin films in electrolyte solutions with bimodal AFM. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:14146-14154. [PMID: 36111590 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr02177c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the interplay between the nanomechanical properties of organic electronic materials and their electronic properties is central to developing sensors and transducers for applications ranging from immunosensing to e-skin. Controlling organic device operations in aqueous electrolyte solutions and their mechanical compliance with the host tissue or living systems, as for instance in active implants for the recording or stimulation of neural signals, is still largely unexplored. Here, we implemented bimodal AFM to map the nanomechanical and structural properties of thin films made from poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene-sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), the most widely used conducting polymer blend, during operation as a microelectrode in an electrolyte solution. Nanomechanical maps showed the film consisting of a granular structure made from PEDOT:PSS regions embedded in the PSS matrix. The film swelled upon immersion in an aqueous solution. In operando bimodal AFM data obtained by applying a sequence of doping/de-doping bias cycles showed a significant decrease in the modulus (70%) that saturated after about 10 cycles. A similar sequence of biases at the opposite polarity did not significantly influence the mechanical behaviour of PEDOT:PSS. The decrease in the modulus was explained by the development of persistent hydration, which was enhanced by the cations trapped inside the organic electronic material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Benaglia
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid, CSIC, c/Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sofia Drakopoulou
- Life Science Department, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 101, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Dept. of Physics, Information Science and Mathematics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213a, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Biscarini
- Life Science Department, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 101, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-19, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - 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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9
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Umeda K, Kobayashi K, Yamada H. Nanomechanics of self-assembled surfactants revealed by frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:4626-4634. [PMID: 35262133 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr00369d] [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
Surfactants play a critical role in bottom-up nanotechnologies due to their peculiar nature of controlling the interfacial energy. Since their operational mechanism originates from the molecular-scale formation and disruption processes of molecular assemblies (i.e., micelles), conventional static-mode atomic force microscopy has made a significant contribution to unravel the detailed molecular pictures. Recently, we have successfully developed a local solvation measurement technique based on three-dimensional frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy, whose spatial resolution is not limited by jump-to-contact. Here, using this novel technique, we investigate molecular nanomechanics in the formation and disruption processes of micelles formed on a hydrophobic surface. Furthermore, an experiment employing a hetero-nanostructure reveals that the nanomechanics depends on the form of the molecular assembly. Namely, the hemifusion and disruption processes are peculiar to the micellar surface and cause a higher energy dissipation than the monolayer surface. The technique established in this study will be used as a generic technology for further development of bottom-up nanotechnologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Umeda
- Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192, Japan
- PRESTO/JST, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
- Department of Electronic Science and Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
| | - Kei Kobayashi
- Department of Electronic Science and Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
| | - Hirofumi Yamada
- Department of Electronic Science and Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
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