New Applications for Scanning Probe Microscopy of Biomaterials

University Of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara CA

Investigators

Abstract

Hansma MCB 9982743 The objective of this research is to develop high-throughput atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study biomolecular interactions. The high speed and low noise of prototype small-cantilever AFMs are advantageous for research on enzymatic reactions and other biomolecular interactions at the level of individual macromolecules. These studies will be carried out with the following three types of biomaterials: (1) DNA-protein and DNA-ligand complexes, (2) Extracellular matrix macromolecules and (3) Pseudomonas bacterial biofilms. This project brings together the leading-edge scanning probe microscopes available to the investigator's laboratory with leading-edge research in biomaterials at UC Santa Barbara. The research on high-throughput AFM has the potential to provide a valuable resource for some types of combinatorial chemistry. Combinatorial chemistry generates huge numbers of products, which need to be analyzed by techniques capable of handling such huge numbers. The biomaterials research using small-cantilever AFMs will be valuable for helping the prototype small-cantilever AFMs evolve into user-friendly AFMs. Small-cantilever AFMs have the potential to become the next generation of commercial AFMs. This research educates students in the use of the AFM.