title: Mapping the placement of oligonucleotide molecules using scanning probe microscopy.
abstract: The successful development of novel bio-inspired devices requires the ability to place specific biomolecules on a substrate with nanometre precision, in such a way so that their bioactivity is retained. A method is required that can verify this bio-modification. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) can image and probe a surface in a liquid environment with nanometre resolution. Using short chain complementary oligonucleotides as the bioactive molecules we have modified continuous and patterned gold substrates and SPM probes. We demonstrated that the attached oligonucleotides retained their biological activity after surface attachment with a hybridization interaction force that varies between 50 and 400pN as measured by SPM force measurements. Finally, the position of the attached oligonucleotides was determined with nanometre resolution. Thus we have demonstrated the capabilities of SPM in the application of the development of substrates and templates suitable for forming the basis of novel and innovative devices.
authors.affiliation: The National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW, UK. Robert.boyd@npl.co.uk
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Winkless
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuenat
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kazakova
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D020527:Microscopy, Scanning Probe / Q000379:methods*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D009841:Oligonucleotides; D006046:Gold