Use of self-actuating and self-sensing cantilevers for imaging biological samples in fluid.
In this paper, we present a detailed investigation into the suitability of atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilevers with integrated deflection sensor and micro-actuator for imaging of soft biological samples in fluid. The Si cantilevers are actuated using a micro-heater at the bottom end of the cantilever. Sensing is achieved through p-doped resistors connected in a Wheatstone bridge. We investigated the influence of the water on the cantilever dynamics, the actuation and the sensing mechanisms, as well as the crosstalk between sensing and actuation. Successful imaging of yeast cells in water using the integrated sensor and actuator shows the potential of the combination of this actuation and sensing method. This constitutes a major step towards the automation and miniaturization required to establish AFM in routine biomedical diagnostics and in vivo applications.
Fantner
G E
GE
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Schumann
W
W
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.|Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Ilmenau University of Technology, D-98693 Ilmenau, Germany.
Barbero
R J
RJ
Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Deutschinger
A
A
ISAS-Institute for Sensor and Actuator Systems, Vienna University of Technology, A-1040 Vienna, Austria.
Todorov
V
V
Techproject, A-1230 Vienna, Austria.
Gray
D S
DS
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Belcher
A M
AM
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.|Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Rangelow
I W
IW
Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Ilmenau University of Technology, D-98693 Ilmenau, Germany.
Youcef-Toumi
K
K
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
D000388:Air; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004867:Equipment Design; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014867:Water
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D014867:Water