Improved Probe Tips for Biomedical Atomic Force Microscopy via Batch Wafer-Scale

通过批量晶圆级改进生物医学原子力显微镜的探针尖端

• 批准号: 8647274
• 负责人: Scott Potter LOCKLEDGE
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: TIPTEK, LLC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-09-19 至 2016-03-18
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8647274
• 关键词: Address; Adhesions; Area; Atomic Force Microscopy; Biological; Cell membrane; Cellular Structures; Charge; Chemicals; Deposition; Dimensions; Evaluation; Friction; Funding; Grant; Hafnia; Hafnium; Hardness; Illinois; Image; Legal patent; Methods; Mica; Molecular; Oxides; Performance; Phase; Phospholipids; Problem Solving; Process; Property; Radial; Research; Research Personnel; Resistance; Resolution; Sampling; Scanning Probe Microscopy; Signal Transduction; Silicon; Small Business Innovation Research Grant; Specimen; Surface; Techniques; Technology; Testing; Universities; Work; cantilever; commercialization; design; improved; nano; nanodisk; professor; public health relevance; research study; scale up; vapor; viral DNA

Project Summary/Abstract This SBIR grant funds efforts to perfect and scale up a newly patented process for fabricating ultrasharp and hard probe tips for making images of biological specimens. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) methods such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) create images of surfaces by rastering a probe across the surface. The probe itself consists of a tip (which interacts with the surface) and a body (which supports the tip and provides an externally-readable signal). The tip radius of curvature (ROC) determines the size of the smallest surface feature that may be imaged, and the tip composition establishes its hardness and thus its wear resistance. Currently, there is no known batch process to fabricate tips that are both extremely sharp (ROC < 5 nm) and hard (> 15 GPa). A new process invented at the University of Illinois solves these problems. The process involves two steps. First, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is used to coat the tips with a chemically inert, highly conductive, and extremely hard material. Second, field directed sputter sharpening (FDSS) sharpens the probe tip to atomic dimensions (1- 4 nm radius of curvature at the tip apex). The current project will involve carrying out research to determine whether this process can be adapted for imaging biological samples, by applying various non-stick coatings to the probe tips. Probe tips that are ultrasharp, very hard, non-adherent, conductive, and relatively inexpensive will significantly enhance the capabilities of all those who use AFM to image non-conductive biological samples such as viruses, DNA, cell membranes and other cell structures, where static charge build-up limits efficacy and adhesion of foreign matter to the probe tip apex limits image resolution.

项目摘要/摘要 SBIR赠款为完善和扩展制造新专利的过程提供了资金的努力 用于制作生物标本图像的超杀和硬探针技巧。扫描探针 显微镜（SPM）方法，例如原子力显微镜（AFM）创建表面图像 通过将探针跨越整个表面。探针本身由提示组成（与 表面）和一个身体（支撑尖端并提供外部可读信号）。 曲率（ROC）的尖端半径确定最小的表面特征的大小可能 进行成像，尖端组成确立了其硬度，从而确立了耐磨性。 当前，尚无已知的批处理过程来制造非常锋利的技巧（ROC <5 nm）和硬（> 15 GPA）。伊利诺伊大学发明的新过程解决了这些问题 问题。该过程涉及两个步骤。首先，化学蒸气沉积（CVD）用于 用化学惰性，高导电和极其硬的材料涂上尖端。第二， 场定向溅射锐化（FDSS）将探针尖端锐化到原子尺寸（1-4 nm 尖端顶点处的曲率半径）。 当前项目将涉及进行研究以确定该过程是否可以 适用于成像生物样品，通过将各种不粘涂层应用于探针尖端。 超杀，非常硬，不粘附，导电且相对便宜的探针尖端 将显着增强所有使用AFM图像非导电的人的能力 生物样品，例如病毒，DNA，细胞膜和其他细胞结构，其中静态样品 充电堆积限制了异物对探针尖端顶点限制图像的功效和附着力 解决。