Imaging cellulose using atomic force microscopy

Methods Mol Biol. 2012:908:23-30. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-956-3_3.

Abstract

Cellulose is an important biopolymer primarily stored as plant cell wall material. Plant-synthesized cellulose forms elementary fibrils that are micrometers in length and 3-5 nm in dimensions. Cellulose is a dynamic structure, and its size and property vary in different cellulose-containing materials. Atomic force microscopy offers the capability of imaging surface structure at the subnanometer resolution and under nearly physiological conditions, therefore providing an ideal tool for cellulose characterization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Wall / chemistry*
  • Cellulose / chemistry*
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / methods*
  • Water / chemistry
  • Zea mays / chemistry*

Substances

  • Water
  • Cellulose