Abstract
We developed a new technique to measure elastic properties by using the atomic force microscope (AFM) tip to press samples into grooves etched in a GaAs substrate. We measured the Young's modulus of β-chitin fibres with cross-sections less than 40 nm x 20 nm to be 1-2 x 1011 N/m2. In the isotropic approximation, the Young's modulus of the S-layer sheath of the archaeobacterium Methanospirillum hungatei was 1-3 x 1010 N/m2. By testing the sheath to breaking strength we estimated the bacterium can sustain an internal pressure as high as 100-200 atmospheres (1-2 x 107 N/m2).
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 499-506 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Scanning Microscopy |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - Dec 1 1994 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
- chitin
- elasticity
- force
- internal pressure
- Methanospirillum hungatei
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Instrumentation
Cite this
A new atomic force microscopy technique for the measurement of the elastic properties of biological materials. / Xu, W.; Mulhern, P. J.; Blackford, B. L.; Jericho, M. H.; Templeton, I.; Dahn, D. C.; Moy, Vincent T.; Chernoff, D. A.
In: Scanning Microscopy, Vol. 8, No. 3, 01.12.1994, p. 499-506.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A new atomic force microscopy technique for the measurement of the elastic properties of biological materials
AU - Xu, W.
AU - Mulhern, P. J.
AU - Blackford, B. L.
AU - Jericho, M. H.
AU - Templeton, I.
AU - Dahn, D. C.
AU - Moy, Vincent T.
AU - Chernoff, D. A.
PY - 1994/12/1
Y1 - 1994/12/1
N2 - We developed a new technique to measure elastic properties by using the atomic force microscope (AFM) tip to press samples into grooves etched in a GaAs substrate. We measured the Young's modulus of β-chitin fibres with cross-sections less than 40 nm x 20 nm to be 1-2 x 1011 N/m2. In the isotropic approximation, the Young's modulus of the S-layer sheath of the archaeobacterium Methanospirillum hungatei was 1-3 x 1010 N/m2. By testing the sheath to breaking strength we estimated the bacterium can sustain an internal pressure as high as 100-200 atmospheres (1-2 x 107 N/m2).
AB - We developed a new technique to measure elastic properties by using the atomic force microscope (AFM) tip to press samples into grooves etched in a GaAs substrate. We measured the Young's modulus of β-chitin fibres with cross-sections less than 40 nm x 20 nm to be 1-2 x 1011 N/m2. In the isotropic approximation, the Young's modulus of the S-layer sheath of the archaeobacterium Methanospirillum hungatei was 1-3 x 1010 N/m2. By testing the sheath to breaking strength we estimated the bacterium can sustain an internal pressure as high as 100-200 atmospheres (1-2 x 107 N/m2).
KW - Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
KW - chitin
KW - elasticity
KW - force
KW - internal pressure
KW - Methanospirillum hungatei
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028625365&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0028625365&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0028625365
VL - 8
SP - 499
EP - 506
JO - Scanning Microscopy
JF - Scanning Microscopy
SN - 0891-7035
IS - 3
ER -