Latest News

Infrared nano-spectroscopy of ferroelastic domain walls in hybrid improper ferroelectric Ca3Ti2O7Tue Mar 03 2020

Published new post (Infrared nano-spectroscopy of ferroelastic domain walls in hybrid improper ferroelectric Ca3Ti2O7) on NANOSENSORS Blog Ferroic materials are well known to exhibit heterogeneity in the form of domain walls. Understanding the properties of these boundaries is crucial for controlling functionality with external stimuli and for realizing their potential for ultra-low power memory and logic devices as well as novel computing architectures.* In the article “Infrared nano-spectroscopy of ferroelastic domain walls in hybrid improper ferroelectric Ca3Ti2O7” K. A. Smith, E. A. Nowadnick, S. Fan, O. Khatib, S. J. Lim, B. Gao, N. C. Harms, S. N. Neal, J. K. Kirkland, M. C. Martin, C. J. Won, M. B. Raschke, S.-W. Cheong, C. J. Fennie, G. L. Carr, H. A. Bechtel and J. L. Musfeldt employ synchrotron-based near-field infrared nano-spectroscopy to reveal the vibrational properties of ferroelastic (90∘ ferroelectric) domain walls in the hybrid improper ferroelectric Ca3Ti2O7 . By locally mapping the Ti-O stretching and Ti-O-Ti bending modes, they reveal how structural order parameters rotate across a wall. Thus, they link observed near-field amplitude changes to underlying structural modulations and test ferroelectric switching models against real space measurements of local structure. This initiative opens the door to broadband infrared nano-imaging of heterogeneity in ferroics.* NANOSENSORS™ Platinum Silicide PtSi-NCH AFM probes were used for the Near-field infrared spectroscopy. Atomic force and piezoforce imaging reveal the different orientations of directional order parameters and domain wall character, providing a physical playground for graph theory. * https://www.nanosensors.com/platinum-silicide-non-contact-t… Please have a look at the NANOSENSORS blog for the full citation and a direct link to the full article. #AtomicForceMicroscopy #multiferroics #PiezoresponseForceMicroscopy #AFM

Graphene Quantum Dots as Nanozymes for Electrochemical Sensing of Yersinia enterocolitica in Milk and Human SerumThu Feb 27 2020

New post - Graphene Quantum Dots as Nanozymes for Electrochemical Sensing of Yersinia enterocolitica in Milk and Human Serum (https://www.nanoworld.com/…/graphene-quantum-dots-as-nanoz…/) has been published on NanoWorld Blog. Yersinia enterocolitica is a gram-negative bacillus shaped bacterium that leads to a zootonic disease called yersiniosis. The infection is demonstrated as mesenteric adenitis, acute diarrhea, terminal ileitis, and pseudoappendicitis. Rarely, it can even result in sepsis. According to the 2017 report of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Y. enterocolitica has been realized as the third most common foodborne-zoonotic disease after campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis in the European Union.* Several studies suggested that #pathogendetection #GrapheneQuantumDots #immunosensor #AtomicForceMicroscopy

Nanotools is attending the SPIE Advanced Lithography in CaliforniaFri Feb 21 2020

BPS 2020 San Diego NanoAndMore booth 818 Thank you and so longThu Feb 20 2020

Thank you all for visiting our booth at the 2020 San Diego Biophysical Society Meeting this week. We hope you have a safe trip home and are looking forward to meeting you again soon https://youtu.be/Q2ubyg6KiOc #bps2020 #biophysics #biomaterials #AFMprobes

It’s the last day @BiophysicalSoc Meeting 2020 exhibit in San DiegoTue Feb 18 2020

Size‐Independent Transmembrane Transporting of Single Tetrahedral...Tue Feb 18 2020

Published new post (Size‐Independent Transmembrane Transporting of Single Tetrahedral DNA Nanostructures) on NANOSENSORS Blog Targeted drug delivery and precision medicine have now become a new paradigm in cancer therapy, with nanocarriers, pharmacologically active drugs could be directly delivered into target cancer cells to manage or reverse the course of disease. Nevertheless, the recent critical issue for drug delivery systems is lack of efficient drug delivery carriers.* DNA nanostructures have attracted considerable attention as drug delivery carriers. However, the transmembrane kinetics of DNA nanostructures remains less explored.* In the article “Size‐Independent Transmembrane Transporting of Single Tetrahedral DNA Nanostructures” Xi Chen, Falin Tian, Min Li, Haijiao Xu, Mingjun Cai, Qian Li, Xiaolei Zuo, Hongda Wang, Xinghua Shi, Chunhai Fan, Huricha Baigude and Yuping Shan describe how they monitored the dynamic process of transporting single tetrahedral DNA nanostructures (TDNs) monitored in real time using a force-tracing technique based on atomic force microscopy.* The authors used special NANOSENSORS™ PointProbe® Plus PPP-BSI AFM probes for the single-molecule force tracing. The NANOSENSORS PPP-BSI AFM tips were modified in two steps as described in their article: First they were washed by Piranha solution (V(H2SO4):V(H2O2) = 3:1) for 1 h, cleaned with ultrapure water twice and absolute ethylacohol once then the AFM tips were dried by argon gas, and cleaned under O3 for 30 min to remove other impurities. After cleaning, the AFM tips were modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane[17] to generate amino group, it was convenient for linking the heterobifunctional PEG (MAL-PEG2000-SCM, FW≈2000, SensoPathechnologies, Bozeman, MT 1 mg mL−1). After drying with argon, the tips were immersed in a mixture of 100 × 10−9m TDNs, 50 μL NH2OH-reagent (500 × 10−3m NH2OH•HCl, 25 × 10−3m EDTA, pH 7.5), and 50 μL buffer A (100 × 10−3m NaCl, 50 × 10−3m NaH2PO4, 1 × 10−3m EDTA, pH 7.5). After functionalization for 1 h, the AFM tips were washed with PBS for three times and stored at 4 °C .* Please have a look at the NANOSENSORS blog for the full citation and a direct link to the full article #forcetracing #AtomicForceMicroscopy #DNAnanostructures #bsp2020

Get your free NANOSENSORS Fun Grating at booth 818 at Biophysical...Mon Feb 17 2020

Published new post (Get your free NANOSENSORS Fun Grating at booth 818 at Biophysical Society Meeting 2020) on NANOSENSORS Blog This year NANOSENSORS™ celebrates its 30th anniversary. We are celebrating this with the whole #AFMcommunity by giving away NANOSENSORS™ Fun Gratings especially created for this occasion @BiophysicalSoc Meeting 2020 in San Diego at NanoAndMore USA booth no. 818 this week. Pick up your grating, switch on the AFM, start scanning, discover the images that are hidden in the grating and celebrate 30 years of NANOSENSORS high quality AFM probes with us. #singlecell #singlemoleculeresearch #singlemolecule #nanoscience #AFMcommunity #AtomicForceMicroscopy #bps20

We're at the Biophysical Society Meeting in San Diego this weekMon Feb 17 2020

New post - We're at the Biophysical Society Meeting in San Diego this week (https://www.nanoworld.com/…/were-at-the-biophysical-societ…/) has been published on NanoWorld Blog. We're at NanoAndMore USA booth no. 818 at the Biophysical Society Meeting in San Diego this week. Have you already visited us and found out what's up with the giant AFM probe at the booth? Finally we can exhibit something you can see with your bare eyes. Check out our big and even bigger AFM probe models at NanoAndMore USA booth no. 818 at the Biophysical Society exibit #bps20 #singlemoleculeresearch #biophysics #AFMprobes

Booth #818 Biophysical Society Annual Meeting 2020 San Diego NanoAndMoreSun Feb 16 2020

https://youtu.be/qhJaUJ2E3mQ We’re all set up and ready to welcome you @BiophysicalSoc Annual Meeting 2020 in San Diego! Don't forget to visit us and pick up your free sample of NANOSENSORS uniqprobe qp-BioT #AFMprobes at NanoAndMore USA booth #818 during the next three days.https://www.nanosensors.com/uniqprobe-uniform-quality-conta… We're looking forward to welcome you! #bps2020 #biomaterials #biophysics #molecularbiology

The exhibit @BiophysicalSoc Meeting 2020 in San Diego will be open from 10 am todaySun Feb 16 2020

Researchers at KRISS applied nanotools CDR30-EBDThu Feb 13 2020

A blast from the pastMon Feb 10 2020

Optical manipulation of sphingolipid biosynthesis using photoswitchable ceramidesMon Feb 10 2020

New post - Optical manipulation of sphingolipid biosynthesis using photoswitchable ceramides (https://www.nanoworld.com/…/optical-manipulation-of-sphing…/) has been published on NanoWorld Blog. Ceramides are central intermediates of sphingolipid metabolism that also function as potent messengers in stress signaling and apoptosis. Progress in understanding how ceramides execute their biological roles is hampered by a lack of methods to manipulate their cellular levels and metabolic fate with appropriate spatiotemporal precision.* In the article “Optical manipulation of sphingolipid biosynthesis using photoswitchable ceramides” Matthijs Kol, Ben Williams, Henry Toombs-Ruane, Henri G Franquelim, Sergei Korneev, Christian Schroeer, Petra Schwille, Dirk Trauner, Joost CM Holthuis and James A Frank report on clickable, azobenzene-containing ceramides, caCers, as photoswitchable metabolic substrates to exert optical control over sphingolipid production in cells.* They combine atomic force microscopy on model bilayers with metabolic tracing studies in cells, and demonstrate that light-induced alterations in the lateral packing of caCers lead to marked differences in their metabolic conversion by sphingomyelin synthase and glucosylceramide synthase. These changes in metabolic rates are instant and reversible over several cycles of photoswitching. The findings described in the article disclose new opportunities to probe the causal roles of ceramides and their metabolic derivatives in a wide array of sphingolipid-dependent cellular processes with the spatiotemporal precision of light.* The High-speed AFM in AC mode described in the article was done with NanoWorld Ultra-Short Cantilevers USC-F0.3-k0.3 with a typical stiffness of 0.3 N/m. The AFM cantilever oscillation was tuned to a frequency of 100–150 kHz and the amplitude kept below 10 nm. The scan rate was set to 25–150 Hz. Images were acquired at 256 × 256 pixel resolution. All measurements were performed at room temperature. The force applied on the sample was minimized by continuously adjusting the set point and gain during imaging. Height, error, deflection and phase-shift signals were recorded and images were line-fitted as required.* https://www.nanoworld.com/Ultra-Short-Cantilevers-USC-F0.3-… Please have a look at the NanoWorld blog for the full citation and a direct link to the full article. #CellBiology #sphingosine #BioactiveLipids #AFMprobes #HighSpeedAtomicForceMicroscopy

Today is the last day at the Linz Winter WorkshopMon Feb 03 2020

3D Superparamagnetic Scaffolds for Bone Mineralization under Static Magnetic Field StimulationMon Feb 03 2020

Published new post (3D Superparamagnetic Scaffolds for Bone Mineralization under Static Magnetic Field Stimulation) on NANOSENSORS Blog Bone is the second most commonly transplanted tissue, preceded only by blood transfusion.Within this context, it is imperative to achieve the functional and structural restoration of damaged bone tissue. A major difficulty in bone tissue engineering arises from the fact that the bone regeneration process requires a long time for achieving a completely functional tissue. Generally, cells are seeded ex vivo into a three-dimensional (3D) biocompatible and sometimes biodegradable structure called scaffold, where they attach and grow. After the implantation into the injured site, the scaffolds should allow proper host cell colonization for regeneration purposes.* Magnetic scaffolds emerged as promising solution for this purpose. Activation of the magnetic scaffolds using external static magnetic fields (SMF) prevents the decrease of bone mineral density and promotes the bone regeneration in bone fractures. The significant alterations in cell behaviors stimulated by the externally applied magnetic fields has been demonstrated in numerous studies. For example, it has been shown that an externally applied SMF using a magnet accelerates the osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts-like cells in vitro and triggers peri-implant bone formation in vivo.* The magnetism can also be used through scaffolding materials with magnetic properties. For example, biomaterials that incorporate magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are being developed.* In the article «3D Superparamagnetic Scaffolds for Bone Mineralization under Static Magnetic Field Stimulation” Irina Alexandra Paun, Bogdan Stefanita Calin, Cosmin Catalin Mustaciosu, Mona Mihailescu, Antoniu Moldovan, Ovidiu Crisan, Aurel Leca and Catalin Romeo Luculescu report on three-dimensional (3D) superparamagnetic scaffolds that enhanced the mineralization of magnetic nanoparticle-free osteoblast cells. The scaffolds were fabricated with submicronic resolution by laser direct writing via two photons polymerization of Ormocore/magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) composites and possessed complex and reproducible architectures.* To prove the magnetic nature of the MNPs in the polymerized composites, magnetic force microscopy (MFM) was carried out on scaffolds with different MNPs concentrations. NANOSENSORS™ PointProbe® Plus PPP-MFMR AFM probes with magnetic coating were used.* https://www.nanosensors.com/pointprobe-plus-magnetic-force-… Please have a look at the NANOSENSORS blog for the full citation and a direct link to the full article. #ExtracellularMatrixMineralization #MFM #SuperparamagneticScaffold #AFMprobes

The free energy landscape of retroviral integrationTue Jan 28 2020

New post - The free energy landscape of retroviral integration (https://www.nanoworld.com/…/the-free-energy-landscape-of-r…/) has been published on NanoWorld Blog.

Retroviral integration, the process of covalently inserting viral DNA into the host
genome, is a point of no return in the replication cycle. Yet, strand transfer
is intrinsically iso-energetic and it is not clear how efficient integration
can be achieved.*

In the article “The free energy landscape of retroviral integration” published in Nature Communications Willem Vanderlinden, Tine Brouns, Philipp U. Walker, Pauline J. Kolbeck, Lukas F. Milles, Wolfgang Ott, Philipp C. Nickels, Zeger Debyser and Jan Lipfert use biochemical assays, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and multiplexed single-molecule magnetic tweezers (MT) to study tetrameric prototype foamy virus (PFV) strand-transfer dynamics.*

Their finding that PFV intasomes employ auxiliary-binding sites for modulating the barriers to integration raises the question how the topology of higher-order intasomes governs integration of pathogenic retroviruses, most notably HIV. The single-molecule assays developed in this work are expected to be particularly useful to further unravel the complexity of this important class of molecular machines.*

The AFM images were recorded in amplitude modulation mode under ambient conditions and by using NanoWorld high resolution SuperSharpSilicon™ SSS-NCH cantilevers ( resonance frequency ≈300 kHz; typical end-radius 2 nm; half-cone angle <10 deg). Typical scans were recorded at 1–3 Hz line frequency, with optimized feedback parameters and at 512 × 512 pixels.*
https://www.nanoworld.com/pointprobe-super-sharp-silicon-ta…
https://youtu.be/qcS-d6qJFrQ

Please have a look at the NanoWorld blog for the full citation and a direct link to the full article.
#EnzymeMechanisms #AtomicForceMicroscopy #AFMプローブ #走査型走

Happy New Lunar YearFri Jan 24 2020

New post - Happy New Lunar Year (https://www.nanoworld.com/blog/happy-new-lunar-year-5/) has been published on NanoWorld Blog. We wish everyone a good start into the new lunar year of the rat. (Not only the lab rats!) The lab rat is expecting great research results this lunar year. #ChineseNewYear2020 #yearofmouse2020 #ねずみ年 #恭喜发财 #AtomicForceMicroscopy

Happy New Lunar Year!Thu Jan 23 2020

Published new post (Happy New Lunar Year!) on NANOSENSORS™ Blog We wish everyone a good start into the year of the rat! NANOSENSORS™ wishes you all a happy and successful year of the rat #LunarNewYear2020 #yearofmouse #ねずみ年 #鼠年 #AFMプローブ #AFM

We are thrilled to present our brand new BudgetSensors® KPFM & EFM Sample!Wed Jan 22 2020

Kelvin probe force microscopy work function characterization of transition metal oxide crystals under ongoing reduction and oxidationMon Jan 20 2020

Published new post (Kelvin probe force microscopy work function characterization of transition metal oxide crystals under ongoing reduction and oxidation) on NANOSENSORS™ Blog Controlling the work function of transition metal oxides is of key importance with regard to future energy production and storage. As the majority of applications involve the use of heterostructures, the most suitable characterization technique is Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM), which provides excellent energetic and lateral resolution.* In their study “Kelvin probe force microscopy work function characterization of transition metal oxide crystals under ongoing reduction and oxidation» Dominik Wrana, Karol Cieślik, Wojciech Belza, Christian Rodenbücher, Krzysztof Szot and Franciszek Krok present the advantages and limitations of the FM-KPFM technique using the example of a newly discovered TiO/SrTiO3(100) (metal/insulator) heterostructure, which has potentially high technological relevance.* In the same article a combined conductivity and work function study from the same surface area is presented, showing the possibility of obtaining full information on the electronic properties when the KPFM technique is accompanied by local conductivity atomic force microscopy (LC-AFM).* The authos present the measurement of the crystalline TiO work function and its dependence on the gaseous pressure of air using Kelvin probe force microscopy. In order to ensure reproducible FM-KPFM results, two different types of AFM cantilevers were used: NANOSENSORS™ PointProbe® Plus PPP-ContPt (PtIr-coated) https://www.nanosensors.com/pointprobe-plus-contact-mode-pt… and NANOSENSORS™ Platinum Silicide PtSi-FM.* https://www.nanosensors.com/platinum-silicide-force-modulat… Such cantilevers are widely used as conducting tips in a contact mode AFM, allowing for a high lateral resolution in conductivity measurements. The remarkable mechanical stability of the selected cantilevers allowed for the noncontact mode measurements (with a Kelvin loop) using the very same tip, maintaining oscillations at the higher harmonics of the fundamental frequency (≈75 kHz). Hence, in order to record current and CPD maps from the very same sample area, KPFM measurements were first performed with the soft cantilever forced to oscillate at higher harmonics, then the tip was retracted tens of nanometers from the surface, all feedback loops were turned down and a contact mode AFM scan was performed when approached with a single loop maintaining a deflection set point of 10–30 mV. The high conductivity of both TiO and STO materials enabled a low sample bias of +1 mV for the LC-AFM measurements to be used.* Please have a look at the NANOSENSORS blog for the full citation and a direct link to the full article. #KPFM #ScanningKelvinProbeMicroscopy #SrTiO3 #原子間力顕微鏡 #AFMプローブ