Direct visualization and identification of biofunctionalized nanoparticles using a magnetic atomic force microscope

Photomanipulation of Minimal Synthetic Cells: Area Increase, Softening, and Interleaflet Coupling of Membrane Models Doped with Azobenzene-Lipid Photoswitches

Light can effectively interrogate biological systems in a reversible and physiologically compatible manner with high spatiotemporal precision. Understanding the biophysics of photo-induced processes in bio-systems is crucial for achieving relevant clinical applications. Employing membranes doped with the photolipid azobenzene-phosphatidylcholine (azo-PC), a holistic picture of light-triggered changes in membrane kinetics, morphology, and material properties obtained from correlative studies on cell-sized vesicles, Langmuir monolayers, supported lipid bilayers, and molecular dynamics simulations is provided. Light-induced membrane area increases as high as ≈25% and a ten-fold decrease in the membrane bending rigidity is observed upon trans-to-cis azo-PC isomerization associated with membrane leaflet coupling and molecular curvature changes. Vesicle electrodeformation measurements and atomic force microscopy reveal that trans azo-PC bilayers are thicker than palmitoyl-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC) bilayers but have higher specific membrane capacitance and dielectric constant suggesting an increased ability to store electric charges across the membrane. Lastly, incubating POPC vesicles with azo-PC solutions results in the insertion of azo-PC in the membrane enabling them to become photoresponsive. All these results demonstrate that light can be used to finely manipulate the shape, mechanical and electric properties of photolipid-doped minimal cell models, and liposomal drug carriers, thus, presenting a promising therapeutic alternative for the repair of cellular disorders.

Effective Refractive Index and Lipid Content of Extracellular Vesicles Revealed Using Optical Waveguide Scattering and Fluorescence Microscopy

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are generating a growing interest because of the key roles they play in various biological processes and because of their potential use as biomarkers in clinical diagnostics and as efficient carriers in drug-delivery and gene-therapy applications. Their full exploitation, however, depends critically on the possibility to classify them into different subpopulations, a task that in turn relies on efficient means to identify their unique biomolecular and physical signatures. Because of the large heterogeneity of EV samples, such information remains rather elusive, and there is accordingly a need for new and complementary characterization schemes that can help expand the library of distinct EV features. In this work, we used surface-sensitive waveguide scattering microscopy with single EV resolution to characterize two subsets of similarly sized EVs that were preseparated based on their difference in buoyant density. Unexpectedly, the scattering intensity distribution revealed that the scattering intensity of the high-density (HD) population was on an average a factor of three lower than that of the low-density (LD) population. By further labeling the EV samples with a self-inserting lipid-membrane dye, the scattering and fluorescence intensities from EVs could be simultaneously measured and correlated at the single-particle level. The labeled HD sample exhibited not only lower fluorescence and scattering intensities but also lower effective refractive index ( n ≈ 1.35) compared with the LD EVs ( n ≈ 1.38), indicating that both the lipid and protein contents were indeed lower in the HD EVs. Although separation in density gradients of similarly sized EVs is usually linked to differences in biomolecular content, we suggest based on these observations that the separation rather reflects the ability of the solute of the gradient to penetrate the lipid membrane enclosing the EVs, that is, the two gradient bands are more likely because of the differences in membrane permeability than to differences in biomolecular content of the EVs.

Magnetic Force Microscopy in Liquids

In this work, the use of magnetic force microscopy (MFM) to acquire images of magnetic nanostructures in liquid environments is presented. Optimization of the MFM signal acquisition in liquid media is performed and it is applied to characterize the magnetic signal of magnetite nanoparticles. The ability for detecting magnetic nanostructures along with the well-known capabilities of atomic force microscopy in liquids suggests potential applications in fields such as nanomedicine, nanobiotechnology, or nanocatalysis.

Direct imaging of the magnetic polarity and reversal mechanism in individual Fe(3-x)O4 nanoparticles

This work reports on the experimental characterization of the magnetic domain configurations in cubic, isolated Fe3-xO4 nanoparticles with a lateral size of 25-30 nm. The magnetic polarity at remanence of single domain ferrimagnetic Fe3-xO4 nanoparticles deposited onto a carbon-silicon wafer is observed by magnetic force microscopy. The orientations of these domains provide a direct observation of the magneto-crystalline easy axes in each individual nanoparticle. Furthermore, the change in the domain orientation with an external magnetic field gives evidence of particle magnetization reversal mediated by a coherent rotation process that is also theoretically predicted by micromagnetic calculations.

Infrared-induced variation of the magnetic properties of a magnetoplasmonic film with a 3D sub-micron periodic triangular roof-type antireflection structure

A carbon-matrix nickel composite magnetoplasmonic film with a 3D sub-micron periodic triangular roof-type antireflection structure (SPTAS) was fabricated via a simple and promising method that combines chemosynthesis with biomimetic techniques. The Troides helena (Linnaeus) forewing (T_FW) was chosen as the biomimetic template. The carbon-matrix Ni wing fabricated via electroless Ni deposition for 6 h (CNMF_6h) exhibits enhanced infrared absorption. Over a wavelength range (888-2500 nm), the enhancement of the infrared absorption of CNMF_6h is up to 1.85 times compared with the T_FW. Furthermore, infrared excitation induces a photothermal effect that results in variation in the magnetic properties of the carbon-matrix Ni wing. The magnetic properties were also confirmed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and magnetic force microscopy (MFM). The good correlation between the AFM and MFM images demonstrates that the surface of the SPTAS of CNMF_6h exhibits strong magnetic properties. The infrared induced photothermal effect that results in magnetic variation is promising for use in the design of novel magnetoplasmonic films with potential applications in infrared information recording and heat-assisted magnetic recording.

Distinguishing ferritin from apoferritin using magnetic force microscopy

Estimating the amount of iron-replete ferritin versus iron-deficient apoferritin proteins is important in biomedical and nanotechnology applications. This work introduces a simple and novel approach to quantify ferritin by using magnetic force microscopy (MFM). We demonstrate how high magnetic moment probes enhance the magnitude of MFM signal, thus enabling accurate quantitative estimation of ferritin content in ferritin/apoferritin mixtures in vitro. We envisage MFM could be adapted to accurately determine ferritin content in protein mixtures or in small aliquots of clinical samples.

Imaging single nanoparticle interactions with human lung cells using fast ion conductance microscopy

Experimental data on dynamic interactions between individual nanoparticles and membrane processes at nanoscale, essential for biomedical applications of nanoparticles, remain scarce due to limitations of imaging techniques. We were able to follow single 200 nm carboxyl-modified particles interacting with identified membrane structures at the rate of 15 s/frame using a scanning ion conductance microscope modified for simultaneous high-speed topographical and fluorescence imaging. The imaging approach demonstrated here opens a new window into the complexity of nanoparticle-cell interactions.

Magnetic anisotropy considerations in magnetic force microscopy studies of single superparamagnetic nanoparticles

In recent years, superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPNs) have become increasingly important in applications ranging from solid state memory devices to biomedical diagnostic and therapeutic tools. However, detection and characterization of the small and unstable magnetic moment of an SPN at the single particle level remains a challenge. Further, depending on their physical shape, crystalline structure or orientation, SPNs may also possess magnetic anisotropy, which can govern the extent to which their magnetic moments can align with an externally applied magnetic field. Here, we demonstrate how we can exploit the magnetic anisotropy of SPNs to enable uniform, highly-sensitive detection of single SPNs using magnetic force microscopy (MFM) in ambient air. Superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry and analytical transmission electron microscopy techniques are utilized to characterize the collective magnetic behavior, morphology and composition of the SPNs. Our results show how the consideration of magnetic anisotropy can enhance the ability of MFM to detect single SPNs at ambient room temperature with high force sensitivity and spatial resolution.