title: Free-standing biomimetic polymer membrane imaged with atomic force microscopy.
abstract: Fluid polymeric biomimetic membranes are probed with atomic force microscopy (AFM) using probes with both normal tetrahedrally shaped tips and nanoneedle-shaped Ag(2)Ga rods. When using nanoneedle probes, the collected force volume data show three distinct membrane regions which match the expected membrane structure when spanning an aperture in a hydrophobic scaffold. The method used provides a general method for mapping attractive fluid surfaces. In particular, the nanoneedle probing allows for characterization of free-standing biomimetic membranes with thickness on the nanometer scale suspended over 300-μm-wide apertures, where the membranes are stable toward hundreds of nanoindentations without breakage.
authors.affiliation: Aquaporin A/S, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rein
authors.forename: Kamila
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pszon-Bartosz
authors.forename: Karin B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Stibius
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bjørnholm
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hélix-Nielsen
mesh_terms: D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers