Lipid membrane: inelastic deformation of surface structure by an atomic force microscope

• 来源期刊: 中国物理（英文版）
• 学科: 物理学
• 关键词: atomic force microscope lipid bilayers liquid crystalline state
• 年，卷（期）: 2002,（8）
• 页码范围: 776-784
• 页数: 9页
• 分类号: O4
• 语种: 英文

摘要

The stability of the 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-Glycero-3-[phospho-rac-1-Glycerol-Na] liposome in the liquid crystalline statehave been investigated using an atomic force microscope (AFM). We have observed the inelastic deformation of thesample surface. The AFM tip causes persistent deformation of the surface of the lipid membrane, in which some of thelipid molecules are eventually pushed or dragged by the AFM tip. The experiment shows how the surface structure ofthe lipid membrane can be created by the interaction between the AFM tip and lipid membrane. When the operatingforce exceeds 10-8 N, it leads to large deformations of the surface. A square region of about 1×1μm2 is created by thescanning probe on the surface. When the operating force is between 10-11N and 10-8N, it can image the topographyof the surface of the lipid membrane. The stability of the sample is related to the concentration of the medium in whichthe sample is prepared.