Quantitative nanoscale dielectric microscopy of single-layer supported biomembranes.
We present the experimental demonstration of low-frequency dielectric constant imaging of single-layer supported biomembranes at the nanoscale. The dielectric constant image has been quantitatively reconstructed by combining the thickness and local capacitance obtained using a scanning force microscope equipped with a sub-attofarad low-frequency capacitance detector. This work opens new possibilities for studying bioelectric phenomena and the dielectric properties of biological membranes at the nanoscale.
Fumagalli
Laura
L
Departament d'Electronica, Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. lfumagalli@pcb.ub.es
Ferrari
Giorgio
G
Sampietro
Marco
M
Gomila
Gabriel
G
D002462:Cell Membrane; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D036103:Nanotechnology