AVS 49th International Symposium
    Electrochemistry and Fluid-Solid Interfaces Monday Sessions
       Session EC+SS-MoA

Invited Paper EC+SS-MoA9
Using NanomechanicaL Responses in Individual Systems from a Single C-C Bond to Single Cell

Monday, November 4, 2002, 4:40 pm, Room C-104

Session: Liquid-Solid Interfaces & Nanoscale Electrochemistry
Presenter: J. Gimzewski, University of California, Los Angeles
Correspondent: Click to Email
: The capability of the atomic force microscope has recently been extended as powerful tool to not only image molecules in real space in but also to explore the mechanical properties of single molecules in a wide range of environments ranging from ultra high vacuum to in vivo. In this talk I will present a series of experiments that span from individual cells in growth media to the forced rotation of a single carbon-carbon bond in a organic molecule, using AFM based techniques such as non-contact dynamic AFM. I will show that the ability to measure small forces and amplitudes in a range of environments enables unique insights into nanomechanical process such as the determination of the zepto Joule forces for molecular switches and the bility to monitor cell function. Additionally, I will also span these two extremes using liquid based nanomechanical probes of proteomic and genetic recognition processes.