MODIFICATION OF ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPE TIPS

原子力显微镜（AFM）可用于检测和测量 分子间和分子内的相互作用。这个过程的关键是 能够构建具有定义的化学和生物分子的AFM探针 特性.在第一阶段，我们开发了先进的施工方法， 使用红外（IR）激光阱（光镊） 将微粒点焊到AFM探针上。一种启动方法 样品探针相互作用，对探针的损伤最小， 开发一种新型的和非常有用的类型的修改原子力显微镜探针， 发明了根尖孔（ApTip）。在第二阶段，将使用ApTips 用于安装非常小的生物或化学活性 微颗粒，从而扩大了 功能化尖端。ApTips还将用于开发 构建生物分子图案化阵列的技术 （BioArrays）。光图案化和光交联方法将是 也测试过。先进的地面审讯方法 开发用于扫描具有功能化AFM探针的BioArrays。的 这些努力的产物将是一种新颖而强大的技术， 用于快速鉴定和分析定义的原子力显微镜探针 表面固定化分子之间的分子相互作用。 拟定商业应用： 改进的AFM探针和BioArrays在基因组研究中具有商业应用价值 分析，药物发现，纳米生物光刻，免疫和核酸 诊断这些工具提供了高吞吐量， 用于分子筛选和表征的敏感技术。

The atomic force microscope (AFM) can be used to detect and measure interactions between and within molecules. Key to this process is the ability to construct AFM probes with defined chemical and biomolecular properties. In Phase I we developed advanced methods for construction of these probes using an infra-red (IR) laser trap (optical tweezers) to spot weld microparticles onto AFM probes. A method for initiating sample probe interactions with minimal damage to the probe was developed. A novel and very useful type of modified AFM probe with an apical aperture (ApTip) was invented. In Phase II ApTips will be used for mounting very small biologically or chemically active microparticles, thereby expanding the repertoire of sizes of functionalized tips. ApTips will also be employed in the development of techniques for construction of patterned arrays of biomolecules (BioArrays). Photopatterning and photocrosslinking methods will be tested as well. Sophisticated surface interrogation methods will be developed for scanning BioArrays with functionalized AFM probes. The product of these efforts will be a novel and powerful technology using modified AFM probes for rapid identification and analysis of defined molecular interactions between surface immobilized molecules. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Modified AFM probes and BioArrays have commercial applications in genome analysis, drug discovery, nanobiolithography, immuno and nucleic acid diagnostics. These tools provide a high throughput and extremely sensitive technology for molecular screening and characterization.