Molecular characterization of beef liver catalase by scanning tunneling microscopy

Beef liver catalase molecules can stick tenaciously to the highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface which has been activated by electrochemical anodization. The immobilized sample is stable enough for high resolution scanning tunneling microscope (STM) imaging. When the anodized conditions are controlled properly, the HOPG surface will be covered with a very thin oxide layer which can bind the protein molecules. Individual molecules of native beef liver catalase are directly observed in detail by STM, which shows an oval-shape structure with a waist. The dimensions of one catalase molecule in this study are estimated as 9.0 x 6.0x 2.0 nm(3), which are in good agreement with the known data obtained from X-ray analysis, except the height can not be exactly determined from STM. Electrochemical results confirm that the freshly adsorbed catalase molecules maintain their native structures with biological activities. However, the partly unfolding structure of catalase molecules is observed after the sample is stored for 15 days, this may be caused by the long-term interaction between catalase molecules and the anodized HOPG surface.

In situ electrochemical scanning tunnelling microscopy investigation of structure for horseradish peroxidase and its electrocatalytic property

Immobilization of protein molecules is a fundamental problem for scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) measurements with high resolution. In this paper, an electrochemical method has been proved to be an effective way to fix native horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as well as inactivated HRP from electrolyte onto a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface. This preparation is suitable for both ex situ and in situ electrochemical STM (ECSTM) measurements. In situ STM has been successfully employed to observe totally different structures of HRP in three typical cases: (1) in situ ECSTM reveals an oval-shaped pattern for a single molecule in neutral buffer solution, which is in good agreement with the dimension determined as 6.2 x 4.3 x 1.2. nm(3) by ex situ STM for native HRP; (2) in situ ECSTM shows that the adsorbed HRP molecules on HOPG in a denatured environment exhibit swelling globes at the beginning and then change into a V-shaped pattern after 30 min; (3) in situ ECSTM reveals a black hole in every ellipsoidal sphere for inactivated HRP in strong alkali solution. The cyclic voltammetry results indicate that the adsorbed native HRP can directly catalyse the reduction of hydrogen peroxide, demonstrating that a direct electron transfer reduction occurred between the enzyme and HOPG electrode, whereas the corresponding cyclic voltammograms for denatured HRP and inactivated HRP adsorbed on HOPG electrodes indicate a lack of ability to catalyse H2O2 reduction, which confirms that the HRP molecules lost their biological activity. Obviously, electrochemical results powerfully support in situ STM observations.

Scanning tunneling microscopy characterization of electrode materials in electrochemistry

Ex situ and in situ STM characterization of the electrode materials, including HOPG, GC, Au, Pt and other electrodes, is briefly surveyed and critically evaluated. The relationship between the electrode activity and surface microtopography is discussed.

EPITAXIAL BEHAVIOR OF HDPE ON THE BOUNDARY OF HIGHLY ORIENTED IPP SUBSTRATES

The epitaxial crystallization behavior of high-density polyethylene on the boundary of highly oriented isotactic polypropylene (iPP) substrates has been investigated by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results obtained from AFM and TEM indicate that the epitaxial nucleation of HDPE on the highly oriented iPP substrates occurs earlier than that in the pure HDPE phase, i.e., homogeneous nucleation. Therefore the epitaxially grown HDPE lamellae can grow across the boundary of the iPP substrate into the HDPE spherulitic phase with the epitaxial orientation relationship remaining.

ORDERED ARRAYS OF MYOGLOBIN ADSORBED ON THE SURFACTANT MODIFIED SURFACE BY SCANNING-TUNNELING-MICROSCOPY

Myoglobin molecules were deposited on a surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate modified HOPG surface and imaged in air with a high resolution scanning tunneling microscope (STM) for the first time. STM images exhibit not only ordered arrays of the surfactant m

SCANNING-TUNNELING-MICROSCOPY (STM) AND LATERAL FORCE MICROSCOPY (LFM) INVESTIGATION OF THE STRUCTURE AND CHARACTER OF CONDUCTIVE POLYPYRROLE FILM

Polypyrrole doped with p-toluenesulfonate was electropolymerized onto highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), glassy carbon (GC) and Pt electrode surfaces under the same experimental conditions. The resulting films were studied by scanning tunneling m

DIRECT OBSERVATION OF NATIVE AND UNFOLDED GLUCOSE-OXIDASE STRUCTURES BY SCANNING-TUNNELING-MICROSCOPY

Native and unfolded glucose oxidase (GOD) structures have been directly observed with scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) for the first time. STM images show an opening butterfly-shaped pattern for the native GOD. When GOD molecules are extended on anodi

AFM扫描图像重构算法的改进

针对原子力显微镜(AFM)纳米成像中存在的失真问题,研究了通过探针建模实现AFM扫描图像重构方法.目前探针盲建模算法在重构AFM图像时存在较大误差,因此提出基于探针模型预估计的AFM扫描图像重构方法.该方法采用分区探针针尖建模,并通过基于该探针模型的反卷积运算实现AFM扫描图像重构,获得比较接近真实形貌的AFM扫描图像.文中介绍了算法的具体步骤,通过仿真和实验结果证明,该方法能够有效降低AFM图像重构时引入的误差,得到的图像更能反映样品表面真实的形貌。

基于精确探针模型的AFM图像重构研究

原子力显微镜技术已在纳米成像中得到了普遍应用。但实验表明,AFM图像在水平方向分辨率较低,其中探针针尖形貌是影响扫描图像分辨率的关键因素之一。为了提高AFM扫描图像的分辨率,改善成像质量,一种可行的方法是通过建立探针模型后,重构扫描图像。在已有的探针建模方法中,普遍采用盲建模算法。针对目前盲建模算法中降噪阈值难以优化问题,提出了一种降噪阈值最优估计新方法。该方法可以使盲建模算法更准确地建立扫描方向上的探针形貌轮廓,进而完成3D探针模型。通过应用AFM探针扫描多空铝和标准栅格实验,介绍了探针针尖形貌精确建模的方法。然后使用数学形态学的腐蚀运算对标准栅格的AFM成像进行了重构,验证了上述方法的有效性。实验结果证明,重构后的图像中降低了探针针尖形貌的失真影响,可以显著改善扫描探针显微镜成像的水平分辨率。

碳纳米管探针的制作方法研究

碳纳米管的小直径、高纵横比、高强度和高弹性、优良的耐磨损性能以及独特的电学和化学特性,使其成为高分辨率原子力显微镜的理想探针针尖。本文根据制作工艺的特点,综述现有碳纳米管探针的代表性研究和制作方法:组装式和生长式。组装式是通过手工、电场或磁场的方式将制备好的碳纳米管粘附到常规硅探针的末端;而生长式是在常规硅探针末端或悬臂梁上定点催化生长出一定直径和长度的CNT。最后指出这些方法目前存在的主要问题。