Patterning DNA on microm scale on mica

Topographic analysis by atomic force microscopy of proteoliposomes matrix vesicle mimetics harboring TNAP and AnxA5

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is one of the most commonly used scanning probe microscopy techniques for nanoscale imaging and characterization of lipid-based particles. However, obtaining images of such particles using AFM is still a challenge. The present study extends the capabilities of AFM to the characterization of proteoliposomes, a special class of liposomes composed of lipids and proteins, mimicking matrix vesicles (MVs) involved in the biomineralization process. To this end, proteoliposomes were synthesized, composed of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-l-serine (DPPS), with inserted tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) and/or annexin V (AnxA5), both characteristic proteins of osteoblast-derived MVs. We then aimed to study how TNAP and AnxA5 insertion affects the proteoliposomes' membrane properties and, in turn, interactions with type II collagen, thus mimicking early MV activity during biomineralization. AFM images of these proteoliposomes, acquired in dynamic mode, revealed the presence of surface protrusions with distinct viscoelasticity, thus suggesting that the presence of the proteins induced local changes in membrane fluidity. Surface protrusions were measurable in TNAP-proteoliposomes but barely detectable in AnxA5-proteoliposomes. More complex surface structures were observed for proteoliposomes harboring both TNAP and AnxA5 concomitantly, resulting in a lower affinity for type II collagen fibers compared to proteoliposomes harboring AnxA5 alone. The present study achieved the topographic analysis of lipid vesicles by direct visualization of structural changes, resulting from protein incorporation, without the need for fluorescent probes.

Micropatterned charge heterogeneities via vapor deposition of aminosilanes

Aminosilanes are routinely employed for charge reversal or to create coupling layers on oxide surfaces. We present a chemical vapor deposition method to pattern mica surfaces with regions of high-quality aminosilane (3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, APTES) monolayers. The approach relies on the vapor deposition of an aminosilane through a patterned array of through-holes in a PDMS (poly(dimethylsiloxane)) membrane that acts as a mask. In aqueous solutions the surfaces have regular patterns of charge heterogeneities with minimal topographical variations over large areas. This versatile dry lift-off deposition method alleviates issues with multilayer formation and can be used to create charge patterns on curved surfaces. We identify the necessary steps to achieve high quality monolayers and charge reversal of the underlying mica surface: (1) hexane extraction to remove unreacted PDMS oligomers from the membrane that would otherwise deposit on and contaminate the substrate, (2) oxygen plasma treatment of the top of the membrane surfaces to generate a barrier layer that blocks APTES transport through the PDMS, and (3) low of the vapor pressure of APTES during deposition to minimize APTES condensation at the mica-membrane-vapor contact lines and to prevent multilayer formation. Under these conditions, AFM imaging shows that the monolayers have a height of 0.9 ± 0.2 nm with an increase in height up to 3 nm at the mica-membrane-vapor contact lines. Fluorescence imaging demonstrates pattern fidelity on both flat and curved surfaces, for feature sizes that vary between 6.5 and 40 μm. We verify charge reversal by measuring the double layer forces between a homogeneous (unpatterned) APTES monolayers and a mica surface in aqueous solution, and we characterize the surface potential of APTES monolayers by measuring the double-layer forces between identical APTES surfaces. We obtain a surface potential of +110 ± 6 mV at pH 4.0.

A study of double stranded DNA adsorption on aluminum surface by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Immobilization of DNA on the solid surfaces is one of the goals in bio- and nano-technologies. Adsorption of double stranded DNA on the surface of aluminum was electrochemically studied by means of impedance spectroscopy. Nyquist diagram of aluminum in a tris (hydroxymethyl) ammoniummethane-HCl (Tris-HCl) buffer solution, pH 7.4 consisted of two overlapped capacitive semicircles. The high-frequency semicircle was related to the passivity of Cl(-)-containing aluminum species in the oxide layer, and low-frequency semicircle was attributed to metal dissolution. When DNA was added to the Tris-HCl buffer solution, Nyquist diagrams represented an inductive loop at low frequencies due to the adsorption of DNA on the pre-covered aluminum surface by hydroxy-contained species. The DNA adsorption on the aluminum surface was also confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Open circuit potential variation with time also indicated the chemical adsorption of DNA on the aluminum surface.

Pulling alternating copolymers adsorbed on a striped surface

We consider a partially directed walk model of a strictly alternating copolymer adsorbing on a striped surface where the energy is associated with the numbers of the two types of monomers adsorbed on the two types of surface sites. A force is applied to the last monomer and the polymer responds to this force, sometimes by desorbing. The force can be applied at various angles, with the surface component parallel or perpendicular (or at some other angle) to the stripe direction. The desorption behavior is strongly dependent on the force direction and the response gives information about the shape and direction of the polymer adsorbed on the surface, especially at low temperatures. In some cases the ground state is degenerate and this also has an important effect on the temperature dependence of the critical force needed for desorption. We give a complete solution of the problem using generating function techniques and an approximate treatment that is especially useful at low temperatures and helps in our physical understanding of the situation.

Aminosilane micropatterns on hydroxyl-terminated substrates: fabrication and applications

The technique to pattern aminosilanes on hydroxyl-terminated substrates will open up extensive applications in many fields. There are some existing methods to pattern aminosilanes, in particular, (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) on SiO(2) and glass substrates through indirect routes. However, few reports focus on the direct patterning of APTES by microcontact printing (microCP), due to the volatility of "inks" which consist of APTES and organic solvents. This report shows that high-quality APTES patterns on hydroxyl-terminated substrates can be directly obtained by microCP using an APTES aqueous solution as "ink". Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have been used to verify the presence and quality of APTES patterns on which they are selectively adsorbed. Thus-obtained Au NP patterns can serve as templates for the growth of ZnO nanostructures. Lectins are also successfully immobilized on the APTES patterns, with glutaraldehyde as linker. We believe that our method will serve as a general approach and find a wide range of applications in the fabrication of patterns and devices.

Photodynamic and sonodynamic treatment by phthalocyanine on cancer cell lines

Photodynamic therapy is a modality of treatment for tumors. The photochemical interactions of sensitizer, light and molecular oxygen produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as singlet oxygen, peroxide, hydroxyl radical and superoxide ion. The tumor is destroyed either by the formation of highly reactive singlet oxygen (type II mechanism) or by the formation of radical products (type 1 mechanism) generated in an energy transfer reaction. The resulting damage to organelles within malignant cells leads to tumor ablation. The cellular effects include membrane damage, mitochondrial damage and DNA damage. A new treatment modality called sonodynamic therapy has been developed, in which the ultrasound-induced cytotoxicity of sonochemical sensitizers inhibits tumor growth. In this study, the promising new generation of sensitizers - phthalocyanines - were used to induce the photodamage. In addition, we applied an ultrasound treatment to support the photodynamic effect. We report on the production of ROS in G361 melanoma cells. Light-emitting diodes were used to evoke the photodynamic effect. Changes in cells were evaluated using fluorescence microscope and atomic force microscopy. The quantitative ROS production changes in relation to sensitizer concentration, irradiation doses and ultrasound intensity were proved by a fluororeader. Our results showed the highest generation of ROS within G361 melanoma cells was achieved at an irradiation dose of 15 Jcm(-2) followed by ultrasound treatment at intensity of 2 Wcm(-2) and frequency of 1 MHz in the presence of 100 muM chloroaluminum phthalocyanine disulfonate (ClAlPcS2). These results suggest that ClAlPcS2 is a potential photosensitizer and sonosensitizer for sonodynamic or photodynamic treatment of cancer.

Surface manipulation of biomolecules for cell microarray applications

Many biological events, such as cellular communication, antigen recognition, tissue repair and DNA linear transfer, are intimately associated with biomolecule interactions at the solid-liquid interface. To facilitate the study and use of these biological events for biodevice and biomaterial applications, a sound understanding of how biomolecules behave at interfaces and a concomitant ability to manipulate biomolecules spatially and temporally at surfaces is required. This is particularly true for cell microarray applications, where a range of biological processes must be duly controlled to maximize the efficiency and throughput of these devices. Of particular interest are transfected-cell microarrays (TCMs), which significantly widen the scope of microarray genomic analysis by enabling the high-throughput analysis of gene function within living cells. This article reviews this current research focus, discussing fundamental and applied research into the spatial and temporal surface manipulation of DNA, proteins and other biomolecules and the implications of this work for TCMs.

Method for patterning stretched DNA molecules on mica surfaces by soft lithography

Lambda DNA was stretched and patterned on mica surface using soft lithography. A highly diluted solution of amino propyl trimethoxy silane in hexane was deposited on a line patterned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp. The functionalized stamp was then used to pick up DNA by molecular combing while the line patterns are parallel to the liquid surface. The stamp was then microcontact printed on freshly cleaved mica. We successfully obtained stretched DNA pattern on mica surface. DNA was found to be stretched in patterns perpendicular to those carved on the stamp. The stretched DNA population was large enough to be used for molecular biology mapping studies. Furthermore, the possibility of locating stretched DNA molecules in the desired position by stamping makes this method a good candidate for assembling non-semiconductor molecular devices.

Self-assembled molecular films of aminosilanes and their immobilization capacities

The assembly of two aminosilanes on silicon dioxide surfaces is investigated in this work. It is found that for 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APS), a smaller concentration of the silane and trace amounts of water in the deposition medium, an optimum time, and a postdeposition thermal curing are necessary to obtain a high primary-amine content. By optimization of deposition conditions, uniform APS films with a primary-amine content of 88.6% were obtained. The dependence of the primary-amine content on the experimental parameters is related to the extent to which amines are lost to hydrogen bonding with each other or with the substrate surface. Whenp-aminophenyltrimethoxysilane (APhS) was used, the primary-amine content in the film reached 100% and the surface morphology was more uniform than that of APS films under the same conditions. This is attributed to the rigid phenyl component in APhS that reduces opportunities for hydrogen bonding. In a comparison of the immobilization capacities of the different aminosilane substrates for pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), it is observed that higher primary-amine content favors higher uptake, and the APhS film yields 100% PMDA coverage. We infer that primary-amine content could be a measure of the film morphology and accessibility of the substrate amine groups.