Bioelectromechanical imaging by scanning probe microscopy: Galvani's experiment at the nanoscale

Ultramicroscopy. 2006 Mar;106(4-5):334-40. doi: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2005.10.005. Epub 2005 Dec 15.

Abstract

Since the discovery in the late 18th century of electrically induced mechanical response in muscle tissue, coupling between electrical and mechanical phenomena has been shown to be a near-universal feature of biological systems. Here, we employ scanning probe microscopy (SPM) to measure the sub-Angstrom mechanical response of a biological system induced by an electric bias applied to a conductive SPM tip. Visualization of the spiral shape and orientation of protein fibrils with 5 nm spatial resolution in a human tooth and chitin molecular bundle orientation in a butterfly wing is demonstrated. In particular, the applicability of SPM-based techniques for the determination of molecular orientation is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Butterflies / ultrastructure
  • Chitin / physiology
  • Chitin / ultrastructure
  • Collagen / physiology
  • Collagen / ultrastructure
  • Dental Enamel / ultrastructure
  • Dentin / ultrastructure
  • Electrophysiology / methods
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Microscopy, Scanning Probe*
  • Nanotechnology*
  • Wings, Animal / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Chitin
  • Collagen