| Study of Probes and Substrates for Low Temperature Atomic Force Microscopy and Biological Applications |
| A. Radenovic, E. Bystrenova, L. Libioulle and G. Dietler Institute of Condensed Matter Physics, University of Lausanne 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland |
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| The atomic force microscopy in ultrahigh vacuum and at low temperature demonstrated its excellent capability to reach atomic resolution. Nevertheless in the case of biological samples high resolution has been achieved only in very few cases. We demonstrated here the importance of the appropriate choice of probes and substrates in order to image DNA at low temperature with high resolution. We investigated properties of three types of cantilevers and they were studied by scanning electron microscopy as a function of temperature. A large bending of cantilevers, which were coated from both sides, was observed at low temperatures. Therefore uncoated cantilevers are strongly recommended for low temperature applications. Different methods for immobilization of DNA on the substrate are examined at low temperatures. First images of linear DNA on graphite at 82K under ultrahigh vacuum conditions are presented. |
| DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.104.373 PACS numbers: 07.79.Lh, 68.37.Hk, 82.39.Pj, 07.20.Mc |