Nov. 25, 2011

High Resolution Optical Tweezers for Single-Molecule Studies of Eukaryotic Transcription

Investigating mechanical aspects of single RNA polymerases will further our understanding of the molecular mechanism of transcription elongation.
moreNov. 24, 2011

Drag Reduction by DNA-grafting for Single Microspheres in a Dilute λ-DNA Solution

The fluid resistance of single micrometre-sized blank and DNA-grafted polystyrene microspheres under shear flow is compared in purified water and dilute λ-DNA solutions by means of optical tweezers experiments with a high spatial (±4 nm) and temporal (±0.2 ms) resolution.
moreOct. 14, 2011

Optical Tweezers Poster Award

The Scanning Probe Microscopy and Optical Tweezers communities were meeting again this year in Berlin, Germany at the 10th International Symposium on Scanning Probe Microscopy & Optical Tweezers in Life Sciences to present and discuss their recent results. moreOct. 07, 2011

Poster Award in the Field of Scanning Probe Microscopy

The Scanning Probe Microscopy and Optical Tweezers communities are meeting this week at the 10th International Symposium on Scanning Probe Microscopy & Optical Tweezers in Life Sciences in Berlin, Germany to present and discuss their recent results.

The winners of the poster award in the field of Scanning Probe Microscopy are:

1st Place: Huong Nguyen, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Mainz moreJan. 13, 2011

Domains In Thin Organic Films Studied by Polarized SNOM Investigations

We present a SNOM-study of highly-crystalline organic films of an oligomeric polyquater-thiophene (PQT-12). The crystalline structure influences the suitability of films for applications as charge transport in devices as e.g. OFETs. moreJan. 11, 2011

Geometric Effects in the Field Emission of Surfaces with Factional Dimension

The study of effective cold sources of high intensity electron beam couplings is one of actual problems of modern vacuum micro and nanoelectronics. As far as it is known, the difficulties for determining significant absolute values for the field emission current are connected to extremely small values of the effective emission area, which is very small compared with the macroscopic area of a cathode substrate [1]. With the scale properties related to real surfaces, it is possible to simulate the enhancement of the effective area at low anode voltages. moreJan. 10, 2011

Demonstration of Carbon Nano-Onions Functionalization with Biomolecules by AFM and FT-IR Studies

Small (5-6 nm) oxidized Carbon Nano-Onions (ox-CNOs) can be functionalized with biomolecules due to their good dispersion and relative high reactivity. MTS test on skin fibroblasts proved that CNOs are non-cytotoxic [1]. Therefore, biosensors based on CNOs were fabricated. Covalent binding between sensor layers were possible after functionalization CNOs with carboxylic groups (ox-CNOs) by chemical oxidation using method applied by Lieber et al. [2]. Oxidized CNOs become soluble in an aqueous solution. moreDec. 21, 2010

Towards Automated AFM-based Nanohandling of DNA, SAMs and CNTs

Besides its ability of high resolution imaging, the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) has been recognized as a valuable instrument for manipulation at the nanoscale. The characterization and manipulation of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and DNA or the prototypical surface structuring of sensitive elements for biosensors are main applications for AFM-based nanohandling. The relatively low throughput induced by the sequential character of the AFM is one of the major drawbacks that arise, if the AFM is used as a robot for nanomanipulation. moreDec. 20, 2010

Index Tailored Optical Fibers for Plasmon Enhanced Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy and ...

Scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) and spectroscopy allow sub-wavelength spatial resolution for gathering a diversity of information typical for optical spectroscopy, e.g. Raman, infrared absorption, and dielectric dispersion. Applications range from fundamental and bio-medical science over material characterization to investigations of fully-functional devices, all on the nanometer length scale. moreDec. 16, 2010

Characterization of Polyethylene Oxide (PEO) Nanofibers by Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)

We investigate the properties of the Polymers nanofibers for its application in the sensors area. Hence, are very important the geometrical, mechanical and electrical properties of the fibers. We produce the fibers by electrospinning; this method is a simple and quick technique for producing fibers with nanoscale diameters from a wide range of materials. In this process, a strong electric field causes a viscous solution to form a Taylor cone, from which a thin fluid jet is formed. This fluid jet may harden by a variety of processes and become a continuous fiber. more