title: Atomic force microscopy used for the surface characterization of microcapsule immunoisolation devices.
abstract: The surface morphology of the microcapsule used as a bioartificial pancreas was examined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) under ambient conditions in a liquid environment. The standard contact mode was used for imaging. The capsules exhibited different morphologies and surface roughness depending on the composition of the cation solution: namely, the mole ratio of antigelling and gelling cations [Na+]/[Ca2+]. Surface roughness parameters obtained by AFM measurements provide quantitative information on the surface properties of the capsular membrane. In this respect, AFM can be considered a valuable technique complementary to optical microscopy in providing feedback for capsule optimization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hercules
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lacik
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001187:Artificial Organs; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D010179:Pancreas; D013499:Surface Properties