title: Imaging of biological macromolecules on mica in humid air by scanning electrochemical microscopy.
abstract: Imaging of DNA, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, mouse monoclonal IgG, and glucose oxidase on a mica substrate has been accomplished by scanning electrochemical microscopy with a tungsten tip. The technique requires the use of a high relative humidity to form a thin film of water on the mica surface that allows electrochemical reactions to take place at the tip and produce a faradaic current (approximately 1 pA) that can be used to control tip position. The effect of relative humidity and surface pretreatment with buffer solutions on the ionic conductivity of a mica surface was investigated to find appropriate conditions for imaging. Resolution of the order of 1 nm was obtained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bard
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D005949:Glucose Oxidase / Q000737:chemistry; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000737:chemistry; D006813:Humidity; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011506:Proteins; D004247:DNA; D006433:Hemocyanins; D005949:Glucose Oxidase; C011934:mica