A new atomic force microscopy technique for the measurement of the elastic properties of biological materials

W. Xu; P. J. Mulhern; B. L. Blackford; M. H. Jericho; I. Templeton; D. C. Dahn; V. Moy; D. A. Chernoff

A new atomic force microscopy technique for the measurement of the elastic properties of biological materials

W. Xu, P. J. Mulhern, B. L. Blackford, M. H. Jericho, I. Templeton, D. C. Dahn, V. Moy, D. A. Chernoff

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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

Keywords

Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
Methanospirillum hungatei
chitin
elasticity
force
internal pressure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Instrumentation

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title = "A new atomic force microscopy technique for the measurement of the elastic properties of biological materials",

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).",

keywords = "Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Methanospirillum hungatei, chitin, elasticity, force, internal pressure",

author = "W. Xu and Mulhern, {P. J.} and Blackford, {B. L.} and Jericho, {M. H.} and I. Templeton and Dahn, {D. C.} and V. Moy and Chernoff, {D. A.}",

year = "1994",

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language = "English (US)",

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pages = "499--506",

journal = "Scanning Microscopy",

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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, V.

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 - Methanospirillum hungatei

KW - chitin

KW - elasticity

KW - force

KW - internal pressure

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